Sri Lanka gears for Expo 2012
by Gamini WARUSHAMANA
Sri Lankan exports grew by 42 percent during the first five months of
the year. The performance is encouraging and our exports to new markets
too are growing, said Chairman Export Development Board (EDB) Janaka
Ratnayake.
He was addressing the media at the launch of the official logo and
website (www.srilankaexpo.com) for Expo ‘2012, the international export
exhibition scheduled for March 28-30 2012.
Ratnayake said that Sri Lankan textiles and apparel exports to
matured EU and US markets grew by 52 per cent in 2010 and the growth
momentum continues.
The market is gradually shifting over time from traditional to new
emerging markets. Exports to China, India, Indonesia and Singapore are
increasing.
EDB targets $ 15 billion exports by 2015. In 2009 our total exports
were at Rs. 7.1 billion and it increased by 17 percent to 8.17 billion
in 2010.
Expo 2012 will be the largest Sri Lankan international trade fair
after 14 years. The last expo exhibition was held in 1997. EDB expects
over 300 exporters to showcase their products and services at this
exhibition and over, 1000 serious buyers and trade delegations from
traditional markets as well as new markets Ratnayake said.
Ratnayake said that equal opportunities have been given to the SME
sector at the exhibition.
The sector is a major partner in the export trade and the objective
of the government is to facilitate it to be large scale producers and
exporters. Most large scale exporters started as SMEs and EDB
facilitated them to grow. By 2015 SMEs will hold 25 percent of our total
exports, he said. |