Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brussels promoted exports of Fair Trade and organic products from Sri Lanka during the Fair Trade Week in Belgium organised by the Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO), Fair Trade Belgium, Belgium Fair Trade Federation (BFTF) and the Trade Development Center (TDC) in October 2019.
As part of the programme of Fair Trade Week in Belgium the Embassy conducted an interactive promotional event between the importers in Belgium and a small group of exporters from Sri Lanka. The event provided an opportunity for the Sri Lanka companies to interact with potential buyers of Fair Trade and organic products. Inaugurating the event Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Belgium Grace Asirwathamsaid that the Fair Trade industry in Sri Lanka is being further developed with the view to exportdiversifiedFair Trade products to the world market. The Ambassador urged the Belgium buyers to experience the high quality products from Sri Lanka under the GSP Plus preferential system.
The Embassy also participated in several programmes organised by the Fair Trade Advocacy Office during the Fair Trade Week in Belgium which included an annual Fair Trade breakfast meeting at the European Parliament where over 150 invitees including members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and stakeholders of the Fair Trade and organic industry gathered for promotion of Fair Trade within the European Union. The breakfast session was hosted by Bernd Lange, the Chair of EU International Trade Committee and Member of European Parliament (MEP). Mr. Bernd Lange said in his remarks that European Union trade policy should contribute to the advancement of sustainable development goals worldwide and in that connection Fair Trade was an interesting tool to achieve those goals. Ambassador Asirwatham was also given an opportunity to share her views on developing Fair Trade industry in Sri Lanka to increase exports of Fair Trade productsto the European region.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka together with the relevant institutions in Sri Lanka was able to initiate action to seek cooperation to develop Fair Trade industry in Sri Lanka through a bilateral arrangement between Sri Lanka and Fair Trade Advocacy and other Fair Trade networks in Belgium, which is expected to be finalised in the near future.
