Ten Sri Lankan exporters have secured orders to the value of USD 3 million from Canadian importers during a trade exhibition in Toronto recently.
The exporters include Orient Lanka Confectionery, MA’s Tropical Food Processing, Pulses Splitting & Processing Industry, Edinborough Products, Rathna Producers Cinnamon Exports, Hero Nature Products, Tradlanka Agricultural Enterprises, Lions Management, Rainforest Foods and Sujan International.
They took part at the SIAL Canada 2017 in Toronto Canada last month and their participation was coordinated in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate in Toronto and the Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) Canada.
In addition to the trade fair, participants have joined a two-day market orientation program including retail market study visit, awareness seminar and B2B meetings.
This program was facilitated by TFO Canada in Toronto.
Sri Lanka Consulate General in Toronto in collaboration with the Export Development Board coordinated and made logistic arrangements in Canada for the successful participation of Sri Lankan team.
M.A.G. Jamil, Manager International Trade Affairs of Orient Lanka Confectionery (Pvt) Ltd said that SIAL Canada 2017 has been a good platform for us to enter into the North American market. J. Edirimanna, CEO of Rain forest Foods (Pvt) Ltd said SIAL means “pure business”.
Eight Sri Lankan companies participated at a similar program organized by the EDB in 2016 in Montreal, which was also a success.
EDB has entered into an agreement with TFO Canada for a four year program 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 EDB proposed to organize Sri Lanka’s participation at 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 consumers are interested in ethnic, organic, healthy, high-end and exotic products and foods. Sri Lanka’s total exports to Canada has increased continuously in the last five years valued from US $143mn in 2012 to US $ 179 Mn in 2016, 20% of total exports to Canada was processed foods and beverage sector. Coconut kernel products, edible fish, processed fruits and vegetables are some of the products with high demand from Sri Lanka to Canada.