BITE 2011 attracts large crowds to Batticaloa

Jayasri Jayakody in Batticaloa

The Eastern province that remained isolated for a long time in relation to business and development activities, has now become active in these fields, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said.

The opening ceremony of the Batticaloa International Trade Exhibition (BITE) 2011 at the Weber Stadium, Batticaloa was held on Friday. The exhibition, held annually with the purpose of providing opportunities for all industries and investors to set up businesses in the East, is expected to draw large crowds. There are over 140 participants, including several overseas business organizations and educational institutions.

According to the Batticaloa District Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Chief Executive Officer K. Kugathash, the aim of BITE 2011 is to ameliorate the living standards of the people of Batticaloa introducing modern technology and create market linkage on the local, national and international level.

There are several foreign stalls at the BITE 2011 Exhibition. Speaking to Daily News Business, India’s SS Jains Engineering Consultants Limited Engineering Consultant Sinniah Jegalingam said they are one of the largest suppliers of paddy husking machinery and related equipment to Sri Lanka.

“As the Eastern Province is going through an economic renaissance, they decided to take part in the BITE 2011 exhibition,” he said.

Another foreign participant, Indian Register Quality Systems Head C. S.Shankar told Daily News Business they have been conducting business in Colombo for the past 10 years. “As the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka is developing at a rapid pace, our management decided expanding our operations to that Province is a good idea,” he said.

Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services Managing Director Arjun Dharmadasa said compared to the other parts of the Island, the people of the Eastern Province are very dynamic.

“I have no doubt that this exhibition will be a resounding success,” he said.