The 27th edition of the renowned World Food Exhibition opened at Moscow’s Expocentre on 17 September 2018. As one of the two key exhibitions in this field in Russia, World Food 2018 attracted 1480 agri-food sector stakeholders from 66 countries.
A long line of enthusiastic public gathered at Sri Lanka Pavilion shortly after the exhibition opening. For the first time, traditional Ceylon spices attracted the attention not only as a multicoloured row of attractive packages laid on the companies’ shelves, but added rich and tasty flavours to a collection of Russian, Sri Lankan and European dishes presented by a creative Russian chef.
This innovative cooking show was the highlight of the National Pavilion thanks to the initiative of the Agriculture Sector Modernisation Project of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Primary Industries of Sri Lanka. A delegation of five high level officials from Agriculture Sector Modernisation Project attended the World Food 2018 to support six coconut, spices, tea and vegetable products exporters. Their Russian partners included companies with interest in promoting fine Ceylon cinnamon, tea and other spices.
The other, well established yet constantly growing export to Russia, Ceylon tea, was represented by a traditionally prominent pavilion of Sri Lanka Tea Board, which joined five companies. Two other companies had their own pavilions, surrounded by a large number of Russian importers of Ceylon tea.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka accompanied by Madame Sanja Jayatilleka and the Embassy staff, inaugurated the Pavilions of Agriculture Sector Modernisation Project and Sri Lanka Tea Board. In his address, Ambassador Jayatilleka noted the importance of the food and beverage trade and experience exchanges in this sphere not only from the point of view of contribution to national incomes, but also as a way of enriching human contacts and knowledge of each other’s countries.
Just as the fusion of both countries’ cuisines, presented by the Russian chef in the Sri Lankan pavilion, the reciprocal trade in food and beverages, and new creative ideas introduced in this essential market, create another very important bridge uniting Sri Lanka and Russia.
