Export Development Board organises seminar, matchmaking programme on Canadian market
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) organised a seminar and matchmaking programme with the services of two Canadian marketing experts.
The objective of the programme was to increase awareness among Sri Lankan exporters on the Canadian market and to develop business linkages between Sri Lankan companies and buyers in Canada for increasing exports to Canada.
The programme was held from July 16 to 18, at the EDB in Colombo, with the participation of 75 private sector Sri Lankan participants, as a continuation of the work carried out in the Canada market, under the letter of agreement the EDB has entered into with the Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) Canada in 2014, for promoting trade and economic co-operation between Sri Lanka and Canada.
The TFO Canada is a trade facilitation organisation in Canada, which is the primary provider of information, advice and contact services for exporters in developing and emerging countries.
The seminar was mainly focused on food and beverages, spices and concentrates, which are two focus sectors under the National Export Strategy (NES) and considering the opportunities in the Canadian market for the sectors.
Canadian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka David Mackinnon, who attended the seminar, remarked that Canada is a longstanding partner of Sri Lanka, with strong economic and people to people ties.
The High Commissioner said that the economic links should expand considerably further for the benefits of both countries and the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service is happy to assist for Sri Lankan industrialists to build businesses in Canada and support in networking with Canada.
EDB Chairperson Indira Malwatte outlined the EDB initiatives carried out in last few years to develop the Canadian market, such as Sri Lanka’s participation at SIAL Canada from 2016 to 2018, in Canada, with 18 companies. Further, she said that the growing immigrants from Asia and the Middle East in Canada are a good opportunity for expanding exports to the market.
The seminar’s technical presentations were made by the two experts from Canada. The retail formats, Canadian market landscape, demographic trends, market share and distribution, consumer trends, role of the distributor, broker and importer and the role of private label were conducted by Canada Murphy & Partners CEO Peter Murphy. He has more than 35 years of experience in the Canadian food sales industry, well-known brands and private labels dealing with all major Canadian retail chains.
The overview of Canadian food regulations and product labelling was done by Food Technical and Regulatory Consultant Marta Carmen.
In addition to the technical seminar on the Canadian market for food and beverages and spices and concentrates, a matchmaking programme was conducted for shortlisted applicants by the experts to select 10 Sri Lankan new export companies to the market. Factory visits were also undertaken to further analyse the new companies. The EDB will work with the selected companies wish to organise a market entry programme in Canada in 2019 in view of the increasing exports to Canada.
Sri Lanka’s exports to Canadian market have increased consistently in the last five years from US $ 151 million from 2013 to US $ 209 million in 2017. Major exports to Canada are apparel, coconut products including oil, fibre, coconut cream, coconut water, chips, rubber products including tyres, tubes and gloves, edible fish products including frozen chilled and fresh, tea, spices and essential oils.