Sri Lanka Expo 2012 Fair Signs up 370 Exhibitors. To be Held from March 28 - 31 at BMICH, Colombo

07th March 2012, www.lankabusinessonline.com

Sri Lanka Expo 2012 will kick off on March 28, with 370 exhibitors and a series of technical sessions and 700 foreign visitors including a 150 strong delegation from China already registered to attend, an official said.

Chairman of Sri Lanka's Export Development Board, Janaka Ratnayake said the exhibition which will showcase export products and services has attracted, trade and business associations, public and private sector representatives and other international buyers.

Trade delegations from USA (35 members), UAE (50), UK (45), Belgium (25), Singapore (35), Thailand (40), Malaysia (40), Korea (30), Pakistan (20), France (10), Russia (10) and Germany (10) will be attending.

China with 150 and India with 120 will be among the largest delegations.

Among the large buyers who have already confirmed are Walmart Global Sourcing, ASDA, Arcadia, H & M, Victoria's Secret, Bhs, M & S, Calzedonia, Lulu and Carrefour, the export agency said.

Ministerial delegations from Bangladesh, China, India, Korea, Maldives, Pakistan and the UAE would arrive.

At a trade and investment symposium will be held with the participation of Jean-Marie Paugam, deputy executive director ITC, Geneva; Sandro Venonesi, chairman Calzedonia, Italy; Mark Harris, general manager London Stock Exchange group Iran Ogilvie, global head of business services, HSBC.

The 10th meeting of the joint council of the US - Sri Lanka Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) will be held on March 27 and the US embassy will also make a presentation on its GDP program and a food law of the Food and Drug Administration.

In addition, the Commonwealth Secretariat will hold a workshop on international investment agreement negotiations and trade and agreement will be signed between Sri Lanka's National Chamber of Commerce and the Malaka Chamber of Commerce in Malaysia.