China to promote Lanka’s agricultural products

The Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing launched a program targeting the Chinese business community in Beijing with the assistance of the Chinese Chamber and Trade Promotion Agency to promote Sri Lanka’s Agricultural/Processed Food and Beverage exports to China.

The first in the series of meetings identified for this year was inaugurated at the Sri Lanka Embassy on Monday for a group of agricultural product importers and distributors. The program was launched under the Mahinda Chinthana program with emphasis on rural development, poverty alleviation and the need to develop Agri products in the global market.

China’s rapidly expanding middle class is willing to spend large amounts of money on food, particularly quality items.

There is an increasing demand for organic food and people are concerned about health and environmental benefits and are also willing to pay more.

During 2008 the agriculture sector of Sri Lanka with a share of close to 25 per cent made the largest contribution to Sri Lanka’s export growth.

During the year Sri Lanka’s agricultural product exports to China grew by 64 per cent and the frozen sea food sector by over 100% compared to 2007. Ambassador Karunatilaka Amunugama said that the Government not only provides facilities to improve agricultural and fishery products for the export market but also encourages Chinese importers establish production/processing facilities in Sri Lanka.

He thanked the President of the Chinese Chamber for organizing the meeting for the group of importers. The Commercial Counsellor, Alexi Gunasekera highlighted the major agricultural export products such as tea, spices, fruits, vegetables and frozen fish.

The importers showed a keen interest in establishing links with Sri Lankan exporters and the desire in joining a business delegation to visit Sri Lanka to explore the market.

Representatives of the fishery product imports said that they look forward to setting up a joint venture in Sri Lanka to export fishery products to the Chinese market.

The representatives also showed an interest in importing Sri Lankan beverages, processed food and organic food to the Chinese market.

The Sri Lanka Embassy will conduct two product promotional meetings a month in Beijing and the provinces in collaboration with the CCPIT to promote agricultural exports to the Chinese market.