More than 55 Sri Lankan companies successfully participate in Gulfood
dubai — The largest ever contingent of food and beverage exporting companies from Sri Lanka successfully participated in the 22nd edition of Gulfood 2017 trade exhibition, which is considered as the world’s biggest food and drink event held annually.
The event was held at Dubai World Trade Centre from February 26 to March 2. The opportunity was effectively utilised for the promotion of Ceylon Tea and food related exports from Sri Lanka to the UAE and Gulf region as well as other global markets.
During the current year, 23 Sri Lankan companies participated in the exhibition displaying their products consisting of various food items under the national pavilion of “Export Development Board of Sri Lanka” which occupied a total space area of over 200sqm, at the Gulfood 2017.
The companies consisted of 13 food related exporters and 10 tea exporting companies. Further, two other companies also participated in the exhibition as observers through the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka.
Moreover, 19 tea exporting companies from Sri Lanka participated at the exhibition under the national pavilion banner of “Sri Lanka Tea Board” occupying a total space area of 226sqm in the exhibition. On top of that, there were another large number of leading individual Sri Lankan tea exporting companies such as Dilmah, Akbar, Impra, Empire, Jafferjee, Anverally, Eswaran, Qualitea, Venture, etc., which also took part in the exhibition. A total of 45 tea companies from Sri Lanka participated as exhibitors which is considered as an all-time record for any location in the world.
The participation of Sri Lanka at the Gulfood 2017 was successful in providing opportunities for the local companies to secure several million US dollars worth of direct orders at the site itself, whilst also establishing and consolidating a large number of business contacts between the Sri Lankan and the UAE companies. In addition further business order were secured with the GCC and the other countries in the world, paving the way for enhancing Sri Lanka’s overall exports to the world.
At the inauguration of the Exhibition, the Halal Accreditation Council (HAC) of Sri Lanka received the prestigious GSO 20552/2015 accreditation award from GCC Accreditation Centre. Thus, Sri Lanka is now registered as a recognised Halal Certification Body by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation & Metrology (ESMA) which is a great achievement. Henceforth, HAC will be in a better position in facilitating exporting of Halal Certified Sri Lankan products to the GCC and member states including the UAE, which may augur well in enhancing Sri Lanka’s global exports, and thereby lead to earn much needed foreign exchange earnings to the Country.
The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and Northern Emirates coordinated Sri Lanka’s participation at the Gulfood 2017 in association with Sri Lanka Export Development Board and Sri Lanka Tea Board.