SME Machinery Exhibition 2009:

Enhancing technological capabilities in SME sector

Small and Medium Enterprise Developers (SMED) the SME development arm of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) is organizing the SME machinery exhibition 2009, a national level exhibition, for the fourth time from August 7 to 9, at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Exhibition Centre of the BMICH with the Ministry of Industrial Development. The theme of the exhibition is Technology for Rural, Micro and SME Development.

The main objective of the SME Machinery Exhibition 2009 is to support the SME sector to enhance its technological capabilities to emerge as an efficient and competitive sector in the economy, and to prepare for the global market.

The SME Machinery Exhibition commenced in 2006, September at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre. Over 100 companies and agencies participated and displayed a wide variety of machinery. After its success the FCCISL decided to make it an annual event and in November 2007 the second SME Machinery Exhibition was held.

The third SME Machinery Exhibition was held at the BMICH in May 2008 with the participation of over 130 exhibitors.

This exhibition provides an opportunity for local and foreign machinery manufacturers, research and development Institutions and SME business development service providers to exhibit new machinery produced by them, sell machinery/accept firm orders for supply, select and appoint local agents/distributors, display and market processes and methods of production of goods and services, acquire technical know-how to redesign existing products, product diversification, quality improvement, and cost cutting, and negotiate and enter into joint ventures to manufacture machinery in Sri Lanka.

As a new addition to the exhibition in 2008 an Automobile Pavilion was introduced at the request of the Ministry of Industrial Development. This year the Automobile Pavilion will be open for those who are engaged in automobile related businesses.

This year equipment and machinery for energy conservation will be highlighted at the exhibition under the theme “Go Green”. It will give a boost to SME Entrepreneurs to expand their businesses in the North and the East.