EDB to participate in more trade fairs

by Shirajiv Sirimane in the Maldives

The Export Development Board (EDB) hopes to participate in more regional trade fairs in a bid to discover additional international markets, which are more viable to Sri Lankan companies.

According to Deputy Director, EDB, Shantha Fernando the participation at the recently concluded Maldives Hotel and Trade fair had been a success.

"The EDB took three stalls and six companies Alucop Cables, Softwave, Lanktrad Traders, Vanila International (Pvt.) Ltd, Selyn Exports (Handloom) and International Construction Company (ICC) participated.

He said that since the Maldives is in close proximity to Sri Lanka several logistical problems faced by exporters could be solved. "Air and freight charges and the turn around time too would be very much less then when exporting to far away countries," he said.

He said that they were mainly targeting the lucrative travel industry and the resorts where Sri Lanka handicraft products have a good demand.

All the participating Sri Lankan companies have found partners, agents and have even signed contracts to market their products in the Maldives. "However there is an untapped demand for Sri Lanka professionals specially in the engineering and architecture, IT and education fields and this is an area where we are going to target in the future," he said.

Alucop Cables secured a Rs. 35 million order while Managing Director, Softwave, Chaminda Kariyawasam who participated in the event for the first time said that they won a contract to print Maldives leisure magazines.

"There is also a demand for quality digital printing in the Maldives and this area too would be perused by us," he said.

ICC Senior Production Manager Palitha Ranasinghe said that their novel construction system of laying concrete without using scaffolding is gaining popularity in the Maldives. "We have already found a partner to market this product," he said.