Big draw for Sri Lanka Expo 2012

The first-ever international style exhibition to promote exports in 18 years, Sri Lanka Expo 2012, which kicks off on Wednesday, has drawn 1,350 visitors from 55 countries with further demand facing a snag due to unavailability of hotel accommodation.

EDB Chairman Janaka Ratnayake told the Daily FT that as of yesterday 1,350 had confirmed participation and fresh registrations were being discouraged due to lack of hotel accommodation.

“We have so far registered 1,350 from 55 countries and due to existing accommodation all being taken up, we are not encouraging fresh pre-registrations,” Ratnayake said.

According to him, several country delegations and individual visitors had arrived over the weekend whilst delegations from China, Malaysia, Indonesia and UK numbering over 400 in total are expected today. A few Ministerial delegations and around 100 foreign journalists are also expected. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to declare open the four-day Sri Lanka Expo 2012 on Wednesday at the BMICH.

The last Expo was held in 1994 whilst the inaugural one took place in 1992.

Day two of the exhibition will be opened by Premier D.M. Jayaratne whilst Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa will be the Chief Guest on Friday and Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen on Saturday.

With the export sector being tagged as the ‘growth factor of the country’ by EDB Chairman Ratnayake, the expo will present quality products and services of the industry to overseas buyers, visitors and investors as well as the local public.

The exhibition will have stalls from 350 exporters and 60 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). It will not only focus on the seven key product segments identified by EDB for growth – apparel, tea, rubber, ICT/BPO, food and beverages, spices and allied products and gem and jewellery – but will span across a wide segment of 24 export sectors, Ratnayake said.

A Trade and Investment Symposium will be held on 29 March where a number of industry experts and international keynote speakers, covering salient topics such as advantages and facilitated process behind Sri Lanka’s conducive trade and investment climate, will speak. Chief Guest at this event is Senior Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama whilst MP Namal Rajapaksa will be the Chief Guest at the fashion show in the evening.