Expo 2012 advanced to a national event, powerful Ministerial Committee to run the mega spectacle
Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry & Commerce of Sri Lanka (third from left), on 06 December 2011, briefs an exclusive meeting for heads of Media Institutions of Sri Lanka on the forthcoming national event “Sri Lanka Expo 2012” as Janaka Ratnayake (Chairman and CEO of Sri Lanka Export Development Board-at left) and Tilak Collure, (Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce - at centre) look on.
Sri Lanka Expo 2012, the mega export show of international scale to be held in Sri Lanka after 15 years, has now been advanced to a national event. And it will now be coordinated by a powerful Cabinet appointed Ministerial Committee.
“The Expo 2012 is now a National Event coordinated by no less than a powerful Ministerial Committee and also a high level Official Committee” announced Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce.
Minister Bathiudeen was addressing an exclusive meeting and a presentation for heads of Media Institutions of Sri Lanka on the forthcoming “Sri Lanka Expo 2012” organized by the Export Development Board, held at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce auditorium on 06 December.
“We believe this show will considerably strengthen our national exports target of US $ 15 Bil by 2015 as envisaged by Mahinda Chinthana vision. The mega event is in reality are three events in one- national promotion of our trade, investment promotion and tourism promotion” Minister Bathiudeen revealed. “More importantly, this event will also instill global buyer confidence in Sri Lanka’s production capabilities,” Minister Bathiudeen revealed.
Janaka Ratnayake (Chairman and CEO of Sri Lanka Export Development Board) stressed that the Sri Lanka Expo 2012 is now a cabinet approved national event with a Ministerial Committee which consists of seven top Ministers including Minister Bathiudeen.
“Initially, Expo 2102 event was planned as a two day event but now it has been expanded to four days with last two days of the event open to the Sri Lankan public” Mr Ratnayaka revealed. “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. “Since we are 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” Mr. Ratnayake added.
The powerful “Sri Lanka Expo 2102 High Level Inter-Ministerial Committee” is headed by Dr. Sarath Amunugama, the Minister (Senior) for International Monetary Co-operation. The other members of the powerful Committee are Douglas Devananda, Minister of Traditional Industries and SME Development, Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, Abdul Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mrs. Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Technology and Research, and Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Plantation Industry.
In addition, a high level “Official Committee” has also been appointed. It’s lead by Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Mr Tilak Collure. Other members of it are the Chairman, Sri Lanka Export Development Board, the Chairman of Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tea Board, the Chairman of Tourism Development Authority, and the Chairman of Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Authority.
Sri Lanka Export Development Board (known as the EDB), under the Ministry of Industry & Commerce is the organizer of the mega Expo 2012 event. Held on the theme of “Partnering with the Hub of Asia”, Sri Lanka Expo 2012 will run from 28th to 31th March 2012 at Sirimavo Bandaranayke Memorial Exhibition Centre at BMICH, Colombo. Over 1000 foreign visitors and 300 local exhibitors are set to take part in the event.
With a target to attract over 1000 existing & potential business partners to Sri Lanka (consisting of Trade Buyers, Prospective Investors and Outbound Tour Operators) the event will also see Ministerial Delegations from 10 Countries and participation of 20 foreign Journalists. The mega show is a collection of exhibitions, a symposium, networking sessions, B2B meetings and industrial visits. Among the product sectors in focus are industrial, agriculture & fishery, export services sector (ICT / BPO/KPOs, electrical & electronics, and professional services). The symposium will consist three sessions: Investment Session (28th March), Trade Session (29th March) and the Tourism Session (30th March). Promotional packages are extended to overseas trade & ministerial delegations and even journalists.
The foreign visitors billed to arrive are 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). As for the sub-themes on “investment”, the BoI export processing zones, Industrial zones, bio diversity and climate related sectors and infrastructure such as roads are included. Among the promotions for Expo 2012 official launch are E –Promotions, Print Promotions, International Media Campaign, Overseas Road shows, International Trade Events, and many Interactive sessions.
Already five overseas road shows on Expo 2012 in UK, Dubai, Germany, Korea and Canada have been concluded in 2011. Among the channels of international media campaign are the Wall Street Journal, Fortune China (Chinese readers), Food Companion Int’l Magazine (Australia), Serendib (In-flight Mag, SriLankan Airlines), First Magazine (Commonwealth Business Forum-Perth, Australia), Sri Lanka Investment Guide (CHOGM, Perth), and the Foreign Policy Magazine (USA).
Speaking of the additional objectives of the event, Mr Tilak Collure, Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce said: “We are keen to increase our value added exports which is a key objective of this mega event. We also expect to see some form of knowledge transfer through this event.” Along with high level representatives from Media Institutions of Sri Lanka, also present during the meeting were Mr Janaka Sugathadasa (Additional Secretary, Ministry of Industry & Commerce), Mrs Sujatha Weerakoone (Director General-EDB), Yousuf K Marikkar (Executive Director, EDB), D.D. Premarathna (Assistant Director of Commerce, Dept. of Commerce).
(Source: www.asiantribune.com – 07th December, 2011)