EDB organises Sri Lanka’s participation at ‘SIAL Canada 2017’ in Toronto

The Export Development Board (EDB) organised Sri Lanka’s participation at the ‘SIAL Canada 2017’ recently in Toronto, Canada, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate in Toronto and Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) Canada.
Ten Sri Lankan companies namely Orient Lanka Confectionery (Pvt.) Ltd, MA’s Tropical Food Processing (Pvt.) Ltd, Pulses Splitting & Processing Industry (Pvt.) Ltd, Edinborough Products (Pvt.) Ltd, Rathna Producers Cinnamon Exports (Pvt.) Ltd, Hero Nature Products (Pvt.) Ltd, Tradlanka Agricultural Enterprises (Pvt.) Ltd, Lions Management (Pvt.) Ltd, Rainforest Foods (Pvt.) Ltd and Sujan International (Pvt.) Ltd from the processed food and beverage sector participated in the Sri Lanka pavilion.  Coconut kernel products, spices, confectionery, vegetarian and healthy foods, red and white rice, value-added grains, sauces and pickles and kitul syrup are some of the Sri Lankan products promoted at the event.
Approximately 160 potential trade inquiries were received and according to the evaluation done after the event, it is expected to achieve orders up to a value of US $ 3.0 million during the next 12 months. In addition to the trade fair, the participants joined a two-day market orientation programme including a retail market study visit, awareness seminar and business-to-business (B2B) meetings. This programme was facilitated by TFO Canada in Toronto.
Sri Lanka Consulate General in Toronto in collaboration with the EDB coordinated and made logistic arrangements in Canada for the successful participation of Sri Lanka at SIAL Canada.
Orient Lanka Confectionery (Pvt.) Ltd International Trade Affairs Manager M.A.G. Jamil stated, “SIAL Canada 2017 has been a good platform for us to enter into the North American market.”
Further, Rain Forest Foods (Pvt.) Ltd CEO J. Edirimanna said SIAL means “pure business”.
A similar programme organised by the EDB in 2016 in Montreal and eight Sri Lankan companies participated.
The EDB has entered into an agreement with TFO Canada for a four-year programme to develop Canadian market access and capacity building services from 2014 to 2018 with the purpose of promoting trade and economic co-operation between Sri Lanka and Canada. Under this agreement, the EDB proposed to organise Sri Lanka’s participation at the above event with the TFO Canada, as part of the activities under ‘Implementation of export development activities in Canada’.
Canada is a highly import-oriented market and the consumers are specially interested in ethnic, organic, healthy, high-end or exotic foods. Sri Lanka’s total exports to Canada has increased continuously in the last five years valued from US $ 143 million in 2012 to US $ 179 million in 2016. 
Twenty percent of total exports to Canada were processed foods and the beverage sector. Coconut kernel products, edible fish, processed fruits and vegetables are some of the products with high demand from Sri Lanka to Canada.
Caption
Sri Lanka pavilion at SIAL Canada in Toronto