Sri Lanka participated in the First China-Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo, from 31 October to 2 November in Dongguan, Guangdong Province. The Sri Lanka stall was jointly organized by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing and the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Guangzhou. The Sri Lanka Stall had strong participation from top Sri Lankan companies, showcasing premium products from thrust export sectors such as apparel, coconut products, fresh fruit and vegetables, gems and jewellery, tea and spices, handicrafts and handlooms. The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka also participated in the trade fair and received a number of inquiries.
The three-day event closed with US $ 28.6 billion in signed business deals. This is nearly equal to the value of contracts signed at the 21-day Canton Fair this spring. The Canton Fair achieved a total value of US $ 31.05 billion of signed contracts. According to the organizing committee of the Expo, 80,000 businessmen, scholars and visitors from 42 countries and regions attended the event, including those from 25 countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
Guandong accounts for the largest Gross Domestic Product among China's Provinces and Sri Lanka’s strong participation in the China-Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo has been a landmark in establishing the presence of Sri Lanka’s premium trade products in this attractive market.
Consulate General of Sri Lanka
Guangzhou
4th November 2014
