The Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Netherlands together with the Export Development Board (EDB) of Sri Lanka organized “SpiceConnect: Sri Lanka – Netherlands Spice Dialogue & Exhibition” on 21 May 2025 at the Embassy premises, in hybrid format.
The event featured a series of industry presentations from the EDB on the Sri Lankan spice sector and the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK), the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), and the Royal Dutch Spice Association (KNSV) focusing on Dutch regulations for spice imports and trends and developments in the Dutch spice industry. An academic presentation from the Maastricht University in the Netherlands on the health benefits of Ceylon Cinnamon was a highlight of the event.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Netherlands Rekha Gunasekera, in her opening remarks stated that Sri Lanka and the Netherlands maintain excellent bilateral relations. The Netherlands is an important bilateral partner for Sri Lanka, particularly in trade, investment and tourism sectors. Director General of the EDB, C.D. Dharmasena stated that in 2024, total exports to the Netherlands amounted to USD 393 million placing the Netherlands as the 6th largest export destination for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka offers a wide array of spices that caters well to Europe’s growing demand for organic and sustainable products.
15 Sri Lankan spice companies, 04 reputed Dutch companies as well as a Sri Lankan food blogger based in the Netherlands joined the event. Prior to the presentations and discussion, an exhibition of Ceylon Spices from 07 Sri Lankan companies that had sent samples to the Embassy, were exhibited at the Embassy premises. The event provided useful and important information to the Sri Lankan companies on Dutch regulations that need to be taken into consideration when exporting to the Netherlands as well as the expectations of Dutch companies in the spice sector. The Dutch companies that attended had informed the Embassy that they were interested in working with Sri Lanka, and as such the event provided them with an exposure to the benefits of Ceylon spices and reputed Sri Lankan companies vetted by the EDB.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
The Hague
30 May 2025
