Expo Bazaar 2011 at Greenpath

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board, the apex institution for promotion and development of exports in realization of the accelerated development for export trade in par with other development activities has taken all necessary measures to raise development projects.

The major strategy adopted by EDB is the implementation of its strategic plan for the year 2011-2015 with a target of US$ 15 billion by 2015.

It is highly significant that the export trade has made an invaluable contribution to the social and economic development of the nation.

Vision for Future under the national policy based on Mahinda Chinthanaya emphasizes the pivotal role played by the export sector as an essential ingredient to the development of export trade of the country.

The performance of 2010 exports was encouraging as the year end statistics reveal a remarkable improvement compared to 2009. The total exports from Sri Lanka in 2009 and 2010 were US $ 7. 1 billion and US $ 8.3 billion respectively, with an overall increase of 17.26 percent.

In recognition of new strategic interventions, EDB most appropriately arrived at a decision to organize an Expo Bazaar, the first of a series during this year. The first bazaar introduced as Expo Bazaar 2011 has been scheduled to be held from April 8 to 10 at the Greenpath Colombo.

The main objective of the Expo Bazaar 2011 is to embolden the leading exporters to demonstrate their capabilities and contributions shared towards the national economy with production of high quality products and services of reputation offered to the international market.

This will stimulate a new export culture in Sri Lanka to make visibility of products manufactured by the country in an attempt to raise awareness of the importance and advantages of export trade among the general public.

The Expo Bazaar 2011 will be conducted under the patronage of Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and will be an annual event with support of the Government.

This will be the first ever event bringing all the leading exporters associated with strategic export sectors such as apparel, tea, rubber, footwear and leather products, ICT, BPO and KPO, gem and jewellery, food and beverages, spices and allied products, coconut and coir based products, fish and fishery products, fruits and vegetables, boat building, ceramic and other mineral products, giftware and lifestyle products, handlooms, wooden products, spa and herbal products, ornamental fish and floriculture and plastic and paints and allied products to showcase export products lines and new innovations on one platform.

The Expo Bazaar 2011 envisages around 150 stalls at Green Path where the layout of the exhibition is made to feature its unique visibility to attract around 20,000 visitors daily and for the exhibitors to pave the way for a platform to market their products and services locally and internationally.

Expo Bazaar will perform its contribution as the best platform to all participants to meet physically and gather information, exchange views, associate with Sri Lankan exportable products and services presented to the global market specially with direct exporters on a common objective of delivering the benefits of export trade to the people of the nation.