SME's and designers at FACETS

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) will organise the participation of 17 SMEs and three designers at the international gem and jewellery exhibition, FACETS Sri Lanka 2011.

The main objective of this initiative is to showcase the talents of these SMEs and facilitate international market access for their products Chairman EDB Janaka Rathnayake said.

The EDB has been organising such pavillions since 1996. So far around 200 SMEs have been provided the opportunity to take part in these exhibitions and promote their products among international buyers.

The EDB has programs to develop SMEs in the gem and jewellery sector.

The SMEs will be educated on product development and market development through international experts, under the program, he said.

The EDB will also facilitate the participation of a Russian delegation in the show, which will help the local gem and jewellery industry to increase its exports to Russia.

The 16 member Russian delegation will include public and private sector stakeholders in the Russian gem and jewellery industry.

These representatives from well established firms in Russia have a keen interest in the Sri Lankan gem and jewellery industry.

The delegation is headed by the Chief Gemmologist of Gokhran, Ms. Tatyana Ignateeva and the state organisation which monitors the gem industry in Russia.