Aqua Asia 2007 exhibition to boost ornamental fish exports

by L. S. A. Wedaarachchi

The 'Aqua Asia 2007' exhibition in Colombo which will bring together all the leading local and international players in the aqua industry will be held from October 11-14 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre.

It has been organised by the National Aqua Culture Development Authority (NAQDA) together with Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services Ltd. (LECS) and Export Development Board (EDB).

The NAQDA Chairman Munidasa Premachandra said that 'Aqua Asia 2007' will create a good opportunity for producers, importers, buyers, new players and other related parties in the ornamental aquatic industry to explore business opportunities.

"Aqua Asia" will be among the top most events for those engaged in the Sri Lankan ornamental fish and aquatic plant industry. Many leading international Aqua industrialists will exhibit their products either directly or through their Asian partners, he said.

The aquarium fish industry in Sri Lanka has been a valuable foreign exchange earner during the past few years. It has shown a remarkable increase in foreign exchange earnings - Rs. 742 million in 2004 to Rs. 889 million last year.

A growth rate of 12.5 per cent was achieved in 2006 and Rs. 1,000 million has been targeted this year.

Sri Lanka's ornamental fish exports for the international market include locally caught wild marine life, brackish water and freshwater species as well as captive bred freshwater fish. USA, Japan, Asia and 43 countries in Europe import Sri Lanka's ornamental fish and aquatic plants.

NAQDA was set up in the late 90's by an Act of Parliament to develop and promote the Aqua Industry in Sri Lanka.

To assist producers, especially the small scale producers to market their products, NAQDA organised the Min Visithuru ornamental fish and aquatic plants exhibition in 2002 and 2004. In 2005 Min Visithuru 2005 was organised on an international scale.

NAQDA established its first ornamental fish and aquatic plants production and training centre at Rambadagalle in the Kurunegala district in 2005. The main functions of this centre are to develop the broad stock of identified varieties with export demand and to undertake research and development activities related to the aqua industry.

Singapore is the major exporter of tropical aquarium fish in the world and live bearing fish of the family Poecillidac accounts for about 30 per cent of the total ornamental fish exported from Singapore.

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