Lanka to showcase exports at Expo Milan 2015

Sri Lanka will showcase its exports at Expo Milan 2015 in Italy next month.

“We look forward to promote a wide range of products at Expo Milan 2015. The last World Expo that Sri Lanka took part in was Expo 2012 in South Korea,” Industry and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiudeen told the launch of Italy’s Expo Milan 2015 in Colombo recently.

The six-month event from May 1 to October 31 in Milan, Italy is the latest in the five-yearly series of universal expos which was first held in 1851 at London’s Crystal Palace.

The 2015 Milano Expo is expected to be attended by over 20 million visitors and is structured around the themes of rice, cocoa and chocolate, coffee, fruits and legumes, spices, cereals and tubers, and sea food, is an effort of Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).

“The Government has declared export promotion as an important subject in its 100-day program. To achieve our goal of US $ 20 billion in exports by 2020, the Export Development Board has launched many activities and Expo Milan is one,” the Minister said.

Sri Lanka will participate in the World Expo Milan 2015 with a focus on the fruits and legumes cluster. We are also hope to promote a wide range of other products such coconut products, beverages, confectionery, bakery, health, herbal and organic products, cereal-based products, gems and jewellery and handicrafts to the 20 million visitors, apart from fruits and legumes.

“The World Exposition or World Expo holds promotions in major cities of selected countries under different themes. This year it will be held on the theme ‘Feeding the Plant Energy for Life’,” he added. The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau is organising Sri Lanka’s participation at the Expo.

Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Rohantha Athukorala has been nominated as the Commissioner General of the Sri Lanka Section of the World Expo Milan 2015.

“This is an excellent opportunity for Sri Lankan companies across all sectors to find business partners from across the globe. They can create direct contacts with new buyers for and penetrate the European market,” the Minister said.

Sri Lanka’s earnings from export of merchandise and services for 2014 stood at $ 11.9 b. Over 30% of Lankan exports headed to the EU while 25% was absorbed by the USA. Merchandise exports for January and February this year stood at $ 1.75 billion a month-on-month increase of 1.7%.