Sri Lanka enlists overseas trade officers for Expo 2012

As Sri Lanka's exports are recording 17 percent year-on- year growth in 2010-11, Sri Lanka Expo 2012, Sri Lanka's mega export show of international scale to be held after 15 years, has been boosted by active enlistment of the Department of Commerce for the show's international outreach.

The mega-show has successfully enlisted increased number of international participants as well as a new feature-a special pavilion for local SMEs.

"Today, I direct overseas trade officers of the Department of Commerce under my Ministry to take part in the international dissemination efforts of Expo 2012 to be held in Colombo from March 28" Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen said .

With the participation of top officials of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Minister Bathiudeen said while chairing a special review meeting of the Export Development Board under his Ministry recently at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Among the top officials of the Ministry who were also present were Secretary, Tilak Collure, Additional Secretary, Janaka Sugathadasa, Chairman and Chief Ececurtive, Janaka Ratnayake, Additional Secretary, Asitha Seneviratne, Executive Director-SLEDB, Dr. Yousuf Marikkar and officials of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Department of Commerce (DoC) and SLEDB.

Accordingly, trade officers of the Department of Commerce posted abroad will actively begin to disseminate the latest and updated information pertaining to Sri Lanka Expo 2012 this week and beginning next week specially to enlisted participants from their countries and in general, to others.

DoC is responsible for promoting Sri Lanka's foreign trade relations, foreign trade policy formulation, and all related coordination and implementation matters.

More than 700 international participants have confirmed their participation as a result of EDB's promotional efforts.