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BITE 2011 in October:
Batticaloa to be business hub shortly
Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA
The Batticaloa International Trade Exhibition 2011 (BITE) will be an
important event for the Batticaloa district where mega development
projects are being carried out by the government under the “Nagenahira
Navodaya” at present. The ‘City of singing fish’ could be transformed in
to a business hub shortly with the positive response from the business
community, Batticaloa Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture
President V. Ranjithamoorthy said. The first ever international trade
exhibition will be an ideal platform to create business links with the
rest of the country, he said at the launching ceremony of the BITE 2011
held yesterday in Colombo.
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An MOU was signed related to Batticaloa International Trade
Exhibition 2011 scheduled to be held for three days from October
7. Here, the President of the Batticaloa Chamber of Commerce,
Industry and Agriculture V Ranjithamoorthy exchanging the MOU
with Chairman and Director General National Enterprise
Development Authority MSS Ameer Ali at a ceremony held yesterday
in Colombo. Lanka Exhibitions and Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd
Director Imran Hassan looks on. Picture by Wimal Karunathilake |
The three day exhibition will begin on October 7 at the Webber
Stadium in Batticaloa.
There is a keen interest shown from the Batticaloa business community
to showcase their potential and build relationships. This exhibition
will be a more focused and comprehensive platform to move forward, he
said.
Batticaloa was in a hype of activities before three decades and
people need to regain the lost development.
This is an ideal time for the BITE to attract potential investment
and trade opportunities to fast track the development of the area.
There will be over 300 stalls showcasing a wide range of products and
services including construction, agriculture, food and beverages,
packaging, apparel, information communication technology, travel and
tourism and automobiles.
The revival of the Eastern Province could be fuelled by the BITE 2011
and the Batticaloa district will be able to attract product and service
providers to integrate the development process, Lanka Exhibitions and
Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd Director Imran Hassan said.
The tourism industry could benefit from the on going infrastructure
development projects and there will be growth in regional business and
industrial sectors, he said.
Batticaloa is the home for many industries and is considered as the
focal point of trade.
It is one of the main access points to Ampara, Moneragala,
Polonnaruwa and Badulla districts. The city itself is a hub and with the
development taking place, there will be more opportunities for the
people to be a part in the main stream economy, he said.
The industry and agriculture centric Batticaloa district has a
population of 600,000 and effective educational and healthcare sectors.
The BITE 2011 is focused on bringing in a huge number of
industrialists on single stage. The exhibition will represent dealers
and service providers and is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors.
The Batticaloa district needs to be introduced to modern technology and
trends to improve the living standards and enable its people to compete
locally and internationally.
The exposure that will be given through BITE will increase their
economic efficiency and create awareness on market needs and demands,
Hassan said.
BITE 2011 is an initiative by the Lanka Exhibitions and Conference
Services in partnership with the Batticaloa District Chamber of
Commerce, Industry and Agriculture with the guidance of the National
Enterprise Development Authority, an arm of the Trade and Commerce
Ministry. |
