In collaboration with Sri Lankan missions:

EDB to organize seven exhibitions abroad

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with Sri Lanka's missions abroad will organize Sri Lanka's participation in seven exhibitions in six countries next year under the Export to Asia and Ocenia program.

The countries include India, Australia, Malaysia, China, Pakistan and Hong Kong, EDB's Head of Export Market Promotion Division- Madhawa Waidyaratna told Daily News Business.

He said that the EDB has identified four distinct areas to promote exports-namely Asia and Ocenia, Europe, America and the Middle East. There are 28 markets in the Asian region of which India, Malaysia, Pakistan and the Maldives are significant to Sri Lanka.

The first exhibition titled AAHAR 2010 will be held in New Delhi from March 10-14. Sri Lanka will have many opportunities in the region because half of the global population live in this part of the world, he said.

Sri Lankan manufacturers and exporters of food and processed foods including beverages can participate in the exhibition.

The EDB will meet part of the cost of stalls, construction, fixtures and fittings and basic utilities and the balance cost of stall space and airfare, freight for samples, and accommodation will have to be borne by the participating companies, he said.

The AAHAR 2010 will offer a segmentised platform to showcase the developments and progress achieved in the processed food industry in India. The exhibition is divided into two segments-Hospitality India and Food India. The EDB will take part in the latter.

The other exhibitions next year include Expo Pakistan which will be held in Karachchi from February 26-28, Australian International Sourcing Fair in Melbourne from March 23-25, and Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) from March 22-25, South Asian Countries Commodity Fair in Yunan Province in China from June 6-10, Malaysian International Food and Beverage Trade Fair in Malaysia from July 22-24 and Natural Products Expo Asia in Hong Kong from August 26-28, he said.