Orders worth over $ 160,000 secured at Dhaka exhibition

The Sri Lanka Single Country Exhibition which was held from July 13-16 at the Bangladesh - Chinese Friendship Conference Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh was a tremendous success with participants securing orders worth over US$ 160,000 and more than 300 business contacts.

Thirty organisations including the EDB and the Sri Lanka Tea Board participated in this event to showcase the products and services offered by Sri Lanka. Orient Electric systems, Alucop Cables Ltd, able 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, also participated.

Orient Electric Systems (Pvt) Ltd, Lanka Canneries and Presstona Tiles Lanka (Pvt) Ltd have secured firm orders worth US$ 160,000.

According to the Executive Director EDB Thimira Rajapaksa this was one of the most successful exhibitions they participated in and he was glad that all exhibitors got inquiries and contacts so that they could follow on. He said that there were many inquiries related to tourism and if direct flights between the two counties were established it would help boost the tourist industry as well as trade.

He said that there is much potential to develop trade between the two countries and added that the EDB will follow on the links established to increase trade from Sri Lanka to Bangladesh.

Deputy Director Marketing EDB George 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.

The population is increasing at 2.2% 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.

Aitken Spence Cargo along with their branch office in Bangladesh, Ace Bangladesh provided the total logistic solution for the participants as the official freight forwarder for the Single County Exhibition.

They also had a stall for logistic support and updated buyers on the transport options which largely helped their business negotiations.