JIFT to build trade links

by Rohana JAYALAL

The fourth Jaffna International Trade Fair 2013 (JIFT) will be held from January 18 to 20 next year at the Alfred Durayappah Stadium, Jaffna. Over 300 companies will take part with more than 400 local and international stalls.

Officials at the Jaffna International Trade Fair launch

The trade fair is supported by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Yarlpanam and the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau.

India has been named as the partner country for this exhibition. The exhibition facilitates the merging of the peninsula with local and global trade.

The primary objective of the exhibition is to promote business and remove constraints to help businesses to operate in a conducive environment.

There are immense opportunities for a wide range of industries to enter the Jaffna peninsula to commence businesses or for already established enterprises to expand. The exhibition will showcase many industries including agriculture, food and beverage, packing, information and communication technology, apparel industry, automobile industry and travel.

Stalls on tourism, financial services, consumer goods, construction field and many more will be on display providing the people of Jaffna an opportunity to participate and witness an event an international standard.

The Jaffna population is over 600,000 with most of the residents having relatives abroad, which ensures a significant cash flow to the peninsula. This results in a high disposable income.

“ JIFT will build trade links between other parts of the country and the the rest of the world. It provides an effective means of communicating being a part of one of the untapped territories of our island nation,” Director LECS, Imran Hassan said.