Ayurvedic product exports soar by 95% in 2012 from 2011
Ayurvedic product exports has seen stupendous growth with a 95 per cent increase last year over 2011 due to concerted efforts by those involved in indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka and several connected government agencies.
The 3-day ‘Ayurveda Expo 2013 – International Indigenous Healthcare Exhibition’ organised by the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka and the National Ayurvedic Committee in partnership with several state agencies held last week at the BMICH radiated this upsurge and the improvements in the whole concept of popularising the use of Ayurveda locally and internationally. The Ayurveda Expo is held once in two years and this is the fourth such exhibition.
Asoka Hettigoda, Chairman of the National Ayurvedic Committee, told the Business Times (BT) that though the export orientation of Ayurveda is very important and provides impetus to the economy in particular to the now growing travel industry, the main objectives are to promote wellness, lifestyles and healing through Ayurveda and Sri Lankan indigenous medical system
He said the floodgates are now open to the world and the values of this ages-old healing and prevention practice are now increasingly picked up globally.
The BT met a delegation from South Africa – a fast growing economy of the world and its leader Meleta Mohlala, CEO, Kopana Creative Concepts said that they are negotiating with a leading Ayurvedic herbal manufacturing Company to establish Ayurvedic centres and other tourist attraction centres like spas, etc in South Africa.
A large number of foreign countries along with the leading Ayurvedic products manufacturing companies as well as local indigenous medical practitioners constituted the Ayurvedic Exhibition and Trade Fair.
China was represented by the Shanghai University of TCM and its Foreign Affairs Manager Ms Lei Xu told the BT that they were here to promote traditional Chinese medicine and also to promote their university to attract foreign students. She said that many Chinese Acupuncture doctors visit Sri Lanka.
India was fully on board at the exhibition and Sushil Mansotra, Head, Exports, Hamdard Laboratories (India) manning a large stall told this newspaper that they are exporting a large number of branded and well research Ayurvedic products and Sri Lanka too is a market for them.
There was a short-made, national attire clad gentleman active around the exhibition area. He is Ahurvedic medical practitioner Victor Hewawitharana hailing from Yakkala – Sri Lanka’s main Ayurvedic area who said he is a Ayurvedic medical practitioner who specializes in treating cancer.
Mr. Hettigoda, explaining the great strides in progress made in indigenous medical practice in Sri Lanka, said that they see a vast potential in South Africa as well as in other countries in popularizing Ayurveda way and said that the South African delegation was promoted by the Export Development Board.
The BT pointed out to Mr Hettigoda that the laws pertaining to indigenous medical practice in Sri Lanka are very weak and that this weakness is exploited by unscrupulous medical practitioners as well as producers and marketers of Ayurvedic products, especially in the confines of Sri Lanka.
Mr. Hettigoda was referred to a investigative article in the BT (then Financial Times – FT) on 15/3/2005 – captioned “Dubious claims over cures for AIDS, heart ailments” where it was pointed out that helpless patients are exploited by one company. This company is running a factory in Sri Lanka, manufacturing Ayurveda products – a multi-million rupee industry, carrying out business under the auspicious of the BOI.
Mr. Hettigoda accepted the position of exploitation under cover of the weak laws. He said that this matter has been extensively discussed at the Ayurvedic Committee and they have now proposed requisite amendments to make the laws strong and save desperate patients.
He said that while in western medical practice all medical products marketed have to be authoritatively authenticated in their application in the cure and prevention and all these products marketed are well branded, such restrictions are not in place in the Ayurvedic practice in Sri Lanka.
He said that in fact some reputed companies in Sri Lanka are also adopting the accepted principles of applying medical treatment, where they have carried out clinical trials and branded their products. He said that with the new laws once in place, genuine Ayurveda practitioners and producers of such products would be encouraged to establish authenticity and branding that would ensure public confidence leading to a steady growth of Ayurveda.
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