Govt supports SME participation at UK jewellery fair

Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G. L. Peiris, participated in the International Jewellery Exhibition in London and discussed strategies for further developing the gem and jewellery sector which has been identified by the government as a thrust industry with potential to exceed one billion dollars as export earnings in the near future.

The United Kingdom is an important market for Sri Lanka's gem and jewellery and is among the five major export markets of Sri Lanka.

There were 652 exhibitors at the exhibition which is being held for the 52nd consecutive year.

The Export Development Board assisted six Sri Lankan companies, namely Amaran Gems (Pvt) Ltd, De Angelo (Pvt) Ltd, Butterfly Designs, Fredoswiss, Mermaid Jewellers and Ran Ruwan Co (Pvt) Ltd, in the small and medium scale sector, to participate in the exhibition to establish new business contacts, strengthen existing contacts and showcase Sri Lanka's capabilities, especially with regard to new designs.

Minister Peiris met the representatives of each company to ascertain their requirements and to encourage them to make Sri Lanka's presence felt in the United Kingdom market and in the European Union at large.