Sri Lanka Expo 2012, the mega export show of international scale to be held in Sri Lanka after 15 years, is to be coordinated by a Cabinet-appointed Ministerial Committee. “The Expo 2012 is now a National Event coordinated by a powerful Ministerial Committee and also a high level Officials’ Committee,” said Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, speaking at a recent meeting for the media on the forthcoming event.
“We believe this show will considerably strengthen our national exports target of US$15 billion by 2015 as envisaged by the Mahinda Chinthana vision.
The mega event is in reality three events in one- national promotion of our trade, investment promotion and tourism promotion,” he said in a statement to the media.
“More importantly, this event will also instill global buyer confidence in Sri Lanka’s production capabilities.”
Janaka Ratnayake, Chairman/CEO of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), said initially the Expo 2102 event was planned as a two day event but now it has been expanded to four days with the last two days of the event open to the Sri Lankan public.
“Strong interests have been expressed by some EU countries and even Iran, Pakistan and India to join as exhibitors in Expo 2012 but we have not said yes to them since Expo 2012 is focused on the Sri Lankan exporters.”
Mr Ratnayaka said that since resuming this event after 15 years, all 300 export firms on show are Sri Lankan.
“However we are now planning to conduct this national event every other year and these future Sri Lanka Expo’s will be in international level with the participation of international exhibitors and foreign delegations,” he added, according to the statement.
The Ministerial Committee is headed by Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister for International Monetary Co-operation and includes Douglas Devananda, Minister of Traditional Industries and SME Development; Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs; Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development; Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce; Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Technology and Research and Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Plantation Industry.
The Officials Committee is led by Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Tilak Collure with the other members being the Chairman-EDB, Chairman of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tea Board, Chairman of the Tourism Development Authority, and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Authority.
The event held on the theme of “Partnering with the Hub of Asia”, Sri Lanka Expo 2012 will run from March 28 to 31, 2012 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre at the BMICH, Colombo, and expected to draw over 1000 foreign visitors and 300 local exhibitors.
The statement said foreign visitors are due from the Americas (USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Cuba), Europe & CIS (UK, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Sweden, Switzerland , Norway, Austria, Poland, Russia), Middle East & Africa (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Qatar, Oman, Turkey, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Jordan), South Asia (India, Pakistan, Maldives, Bangladesh), and East Asia & Pacific (Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea South). |
E-mail
