French company to purchase organic products
 

BY SHIRAJIV Sirimane

ONE if the leading French organic product manufacturing companies have decided to purchase raw material from Sri Lanka. The Company, Guayapi Eco France is presently purchasing their products from Brazil and the Amazon forest area.

According to Managing Director, of the company, Sherly Abeygunasekera they have floated Guayapi Lanka (Pvt). Limited for this purpose. He said that the demand for bio diversified, herbal and organic by products is increasing and they are marketing their products in over 150 super markets in France.

In addition, the products are exported to Sweden, Italy, Germany, Belgium Singapore and the Arabian market.

He said that Canna Indika (Buthsarana) which is commonly grown in Sri Lanka is used by their factory in France to produce baby food. "This has a high protein value and is a popular product," he said.

Wild Ginger (Val Inguru) is being used as the base for cosmetics while another weed is being used for medical purposes. "In addition to cosmetics we also manufacture herbal tablets and medicine," he said.

He said a few years ago they purchased 50 acres from Pundoluoya to launch their Sri Lanka operations. "Presently we have our own nursery, factory and a mini packaging plant and we have invested Rs. 10 million for it," he said. The Company has also launched their own six-room hotel, Eco Lanka Villa.

"There is an expatriate and local demand for this and we are hoping to add 15 additional rooms, swimming pool, and a mini golf course for the hotel next year," he said.

The parent company in France had a turnover of 1.4 million Euro last year and over 6 percent of this had been from their Sri Lanka operations. "This is why we have decided to expand in Sri Lanka," he said.

He said that it is high time the authorities in Sri Lanka do an in-depth study of the Sri Lankan grown herbs and introduce value addition for them as there is a ready made international market for them.

Some of the locally available products can also be marketed in Europe if they are attractively packed, labeled in French, English and Italian and marketed in Europe.

"There is a growing demand for these natural products in Europe and Japan and if marketed correctly Sri Lanka can easily eat into the Brazilian market," he said.

He said that Sri Lanka and India both have made a name through Ayurveda products and this is the time to introduce more herbal and organic by products to the international market.