SL needs to promote food products to the export market
View(s):Sri Lanka being a developing country, without focusing only on the domestic sector, should also consider and promote food products for the export market, says Anura Siriwardena, Secretary of Ministry of Industry and Commerce. He made this comment at the launch of the Pro Food/Pro Pack and AgBiz 2014 Exhibition held at the Cinnamon Lakeside in Colombo last week.
He said, “The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has been involved from the initial stages of the exhibition. The Pro Food / Pro Pack exhibition is one of the most attended exhibitions in the country.” Adding to that he mentioned that there is a strong need for technology to be upgraded and modernizing the food industry. The industry is becoming increasingly automated reducing the cost of labour, he noted.
The exhibition will be held for the 13th consecutive year from 22nd to 24th August at the BMICH under the theme ‘from the farm to the kitchen’, denoting the entire chain of the food industry which includes the inception of food which mainly revolve from farms to process and finally to the food table of the consumer.
The 3-day exhibition will feature all facets of the food and beverage industry and will include intricate details and the meticulous process that is required for food products in order to make them available to the consumer.
Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services General Manager, Aasim Mukthar, said, “The Pro Pack/Pro Food Exhibition began with 40 stalls in 2002 and this year it has reached up to 290 stalls. The maximum available space is been utilized at the BMICH to host the exhibition.” Adding to that he stated that according to statistics 25,000 visitors have visited the exhibition during the past few years. This year’s exhibition will feature two concurrent events in the form of ‘Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Asia’ and ‘Halal Food Asia’ giving an opportunity to meet all stakeholders in the long chain of the food industry in terms of networking, sales leads and knowledge.
(RM)