Lanka to showcase products, services at Bangladesh exhibition

by Surekha Galagoda

The Sri Lanka Single Country Exhibition will be held from July 13-16 at the Bangladesh Chinese Friendship Conference Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

It will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa who will be on a state visit to Bangladesh. Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera are also scheduled to participate.

Thirty organisations including the EDB and the Sri Lanka Tea Board will participate in this event to showcase the products and services offered by Sri Lanka.

The other organisations taking part in the exhibition include Orient Electric Systems, Alucop Cables Ltd, Ables Systems (Pvt) Ltd, Lanka Trims Manufacturing(Pvt) Ltd, Western Air Ducts Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Reebonn cosmetics (Pvt) Ltd, Bio Extracts (Pvt) Ltd, Lanka Canneries (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka Umbrella Industries, HNF Electricals (Pvt) Ltd, Frostaire Industries, Cey-Nor Foundation Ltd, Roche Engineering Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Biogreen Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, Pubudu Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, CIC Agro Biotec (Pvt) Ltd, Informatics Institute of Technology, Presstona Tiles Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Ceylon Biscuits Ltd, Framework Metal Products (Pvt) Ltd, Intelliware (Pvt) Ltd, Colour Products Ltd, Wijitha Group of Companies, Multichemi International Ltd, Cargills Ceylon Ltd, ACL Cables (Pvt) Ltd, Associated Motorways Ltd and Aitken Spence Cargo (Pvt) Ltd.

The Sri Lanka Tea Board will have a tea service during the exhibition.

Deputy Director Marketing EDB George Perera said that the idea of holding a single country exhibition in Bangladesh was mooted by the Executive Director EDB Thimira Rajapaksa after conducting extensive research. Perera said that although Bangladesh is categorised as a least developed country it is the third populated country in the SAARC region while it is the eighth most populated country in the world.

The population is increasing at 2.2% and therefore there is a potential market for basic and important commodities.

In addition Bangladesh has two niche income earner categories such as super luxury and luxury. Until today Sri Lanka's quality products that can cater to niche markets have not been introduced to Bangladesh though the country exports several products to Bangladesh.

He said that there are several Sri Lankans in Bangladesh and they command high respect from the locals.

Therefore their services can be obtained to promote our products if they have a knowledge about the products and companies. Bangladesh holds an international exhibition annually but 95% of the companies participating in this exhibition are Bangladesh who are engaged in retail trading. The foreign countries that participate in the exhibition include China, Iran, Pakistan, Thailand and Myanmar.

Except for Thai companies who receive government assistance other stalls are sponsored by individuals.

Therefore, holding a single country exhibition is a feasible option to promote Sri Lankan products. He said that there are many opportunities in Bangladesh to promote trade although entrepreneurs are not aware of it. Therefore, the single country exhibition is an opportunity to showcase the country's products and services.

Perera said that this is the first step to increasing th as the country has started its economic liberation it is more than opportune that we showcase our products and services.

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Main products exported

Woven fabric 29%

Chemicals and plastic products 12.8%

Textile accessories 5.7%

Coconut oil 5.4%

Copra 3.4%

Natural rubber 2.6%