Profood and Propack Expo from Aug 26:
Biotech, eco-farming to sustain growth in food sector
Biotechnology and eco-farming will be introduced to expand the
processed food sector, said Minister of Industries and Commerce Rishad
Bathiudeen at a ceremony to launch the Profood Propack 2011, the
processing and packaging exhibition.
He said Sri Lanka's packaging industry is growing similar to the tea
and coconut industries.
"Income from the packaging industry for the first quarter this year
is US$ 49.5 billion which is a substantial growth compared to last
year", Bathiudeen said.
The packaging industry accounts for around three percent of the
country's GDP with an annual growth of 10 percent.
"The processing and packaging industry will record a higher growth
this year following the recovery and expansion of the global market",
Bathiudeen said.
Exports from the processed food industry recorded an income of US$
62.21m last year which is a 31.7 percent growth compared to the previous
year.
The food and beverage industry is one of the fastest growing
industries in the country with around 130,000 employed in over 4,000
establishments across the country.
The processed food industry recorded a turnover of Rs. 365b in 2008
and there has been a marked growth since then with the expansion of the
tourism industry.
Bathiudeen said that post-harvest damage has been minimised to a
great extent with the introduction of new processing and packaging
technology.
"Exhibitions of this nature and awareness programs on processing and
packaging will help reduce the post-harvest loss", he said.
Despite the use of new processing and packaging methods the
post-harvest loss is still around 40 percent incurring a substantial
loss to the food industry of the country.
According to reports, a significant number of Sri Lankan export items
is rejected annually due to poor quality packaging.
Managing Director Trans Continental Packaging and Commodities (Pvt)
Ltd., Thusith Wijesinghe said that the lack of laboratory facilities and
inadequate research are reasons for many Sri Lankan products to be
rejected in the global market.
"To compete in the global market processing and packaging one has to
meet international standards", he said.
With consumers becoming more health conscious today the need for
quality packaging has increased. Exports to Europe require food safety
certifications.
President, Sri Lanka Food Processors Association, Rohantha De Fonseka
said that this year's event will comprise over 300 exhibitors from 15
countries exhibiting around 1,000 products and services.
The Profood and Propack exhibition will be held for the 10th
consecutive year from August 26 to 28.
LF
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