Largest fair in Sri Lanka provides hopes for SMEs in the northeast
The Pro-Food, Pro-Pack 2015 - AgBiz Exhibition was held last week at the BMICH in Colombo turning out to be the largest trade fair in Sri Lanka with more than 300 stalls from more than 20 countries, in addition to the large number of local stalls.
Visitors to the event would have noticed a pavilion entirely devoted to micro-entrepreneurs numbering more than 100, sponsored by GIZ - Deutsche Gesellschaft fur (German Cooperation). In the middle of a four rack row, about two feet wide there were several food items displayed.
Along with his mother, there was a dark skinned pleasant looking 12 year old boy at this stall, with a small pack of some gram prepara- tion and everyone who passed the stall was offered a little bit of that preparation with a small plastic spoon. The boy from Kilinochchi uttered just two Sinhala words "Niyama Thal" (Magnificent Palmyrah) and the entire gamut of his 'Marketing Strategy' was in those two words, attracting everyone who passes them.
Though these are products that are commonly used in that area, the consistent quality and simple safety packaging has ensured a tiny international market.
K. Vijayalakshmi (51) is the mother of little Ramanathan and they are from 10th Wattaram, Pudukudiirruppu. They were selling all northern products - Flat Wadai - hard but crispier than Papadum, ginger flavoured gram balls and few other similar products, of course with the flavour connected to that area, moderately priced and the boy's two Sinhala words - all that he knew in Sinhala attracted many customers. The products are branded as "Lathu Products".
The family of four children - three girls and one boy -has a sad history which is common to that part of the country. The father abandoned them when the children were small and two of the girls are now married. In the middle of her narration to the Business Times (BT) she pulled out a picture of a girl - her daughter taken away by the LTTE 15 years ago when she was 18 years.
The mother said that they have sales of around Rs. 5,000 per week and some of their products are purchased by Sri Lankans living abroad and even some tourists patronise them. Ms. Vijayalakshmi told the BT that they were hoped to find a wider market for their products with GIZ support in displaying their products at this international exhibition.
At the opening ceremony, S.S. Miyanawala, Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce as Chief Guest said that the number of mouths needing food increases day by day throughout the world as every newborn infant today becomes a child by one year requiring solid food.
At the same time, cooking food at home has become a matter of concern in time management, he said. As such he pointed out that people are inclined to go for more and more processed food in the market and thus food processing and packaging has become a lucrative business in the world.
With widespread processed food consumption adherence to safety, quality and environmental standards has become a requirement.
Randa Kourieh-Ranarivelo, GIZ Country Director, Sri Lanka/ Maldives said that they have commenced facilitating the micro and small entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka since about two and a half years and their clientele has now increased to several thousands' spread all over the country, but they are placing more emphasis now in the North, East and Uva provinces.
They provide these entrepreneurs, training in all facets of the trade and provide access to finance and technology. She said that they work in collaboration with such institutions like the Sri Lanka Standards Institute and ITI (Industry and Technology Institute) and similar institutions that could provide maximum facilitation to transform these entrepreneurs to medium and large entrepreneurs.
Introducing these entrepreneurs to this type of exhibitions is a part of this facilitation she stressed, and pointed out that they bring in rich results. (Quintus)