Shilpa Expo begins on August 31

Cassandra Abeynaike

The Shilpa Karmantha Exhibition and Trade Fair aims at promoting handicrafts and traditional industries. This year the fair will be held from 30th August to 1st September at the BMICH for the eighth consecutive year in hopes of gaining popularity for small and medium business enterprises. This event is organized by a collaboration of industries including the; Industrial Development Board, Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development and the National Crafts Council.

The exhibition focuses on the participation of local entrepreneur’s island-wide with application forms in all three languages enabling all small, medium and self-employed enterprises the opportunity to partake in the competition. The Industrial Development Board accepts applications from all districts; however due to the wide responses, there is a selection criteria with fifteen categories. “A competition is held in order to choose the awards recipients at a district, provincial and national level. We look at the business’ programmes but mainly at the investments that have been made” said Industrial Development Board Enterprise Promotions Manager, Ms. Gunatilleke.

Last year, over 100 enterprises who had won first place at the provincial level were given the opportunity to have a stall at the fair and display their products. From these businesses, over twenty of them were from the North-East region. The main idea of the exhibition is to expose these industries and the recognized certification gives them the motivation needed to prosper their business.

“At the moment, the fair is at a local level but if the businesses wish to venture into the exports aspect, they will be given the chance through the Export Development Board” she said. Applications are still being received, giving as many small and medium businesses island-wide the chance to flourish their enterprise.