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Local and international companies in the food processing and packaging industry will be afforded another opportunity to display their products and services when the fifth annual 'Pro Foods\Pro Pack' exhibition takes place in Colombo from August 25 to 27 this year.

Pro Foods/Pro Pack is organised by the Sri Lanka Food Processors' Association (SLFPA), the Ministry of Industrial Development, Processed Foods Development Initiative, the National Agribusiness Council and Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (LECS).

The exhibition will provide an opportunity for processed food manufacturers, exporters, importers and packaging companies to showcase their latest products. Companies involved in the food and beverage sector can use this opportunity to strengthen their brand values and establish a strong brand image among clients, the organisers of the exhibition said. Even direct service providers such as transport agencies, shipping lines, banks and quality certifying institutions could play a vital part in presenting themselves to clients at this exhibition.

Since value addition is regarded as important, this is a great opportunity for Packaging and other technology providers to present the latest technologies which would enable processed food manufacturers to introduce their products to customers in a more attractive and safer manner, the organisers said.

The organisers have made arrangements to carry out an extensive buyer promotional campaign targeting a wider cross section of large, medium and small scale companies to visit the exhibition and establish business contacts with the participants. This would include supermarket owners, large-scale, retail and wholesale outlets, hotels, restaurants, processed food manufacturers, tea and coffee manufacturers and direct and indirect exporters of processed foods.

Government agencies, certifying bodies, research institutes and financial institutions will also participate in the event.

The President of the SLFPA Nanda Kohona said: "Several micro processed food companies have emerged in the market, after many government initiatives to boost this sector.

This exhibition will provide these companies with an opportunity to showcase their products and technology to large-scale local and international buyers. This will also be an opportunity for the micro processed food companies to learn more on value addition and export markets as there will be international participation from the Asian region as well."

This will allow local participants to share views, develop business relations and to set up joint ventures among the foreign participants as well.

The Sri Lankan foreign missions have already been provided with promotional material and we are also in contact with the overseas Trade Chambers as well to maximise foreign participation. "At this year's exhibition a special pavilion will be set up to accommodate small and medium-scale industrialists in the processed food and packaging industry.

This is expected to be a stepping stone for the small and medium-scale sector to meet trade buyers and position their products and in this regard the Ministry of Industrial Development will play an important role," Kohona said.

Immediate Past President of the SLFPA said: "Our future plan is to make this exhibition available to any country to participate in.

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