DUBAI, August 2019: As the world gears up to pitch camp at Expo 2020 Dubai, which is set to be one of the longest-running and largest international events to be held in the Middle East, Sri Lanka recently signed the official contract to participate in this mega global exposition to be held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021.
A high-level delegation led by deputy Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, Nalin Bandara and comprising top representatives of the public and private sector visited Dubai for the signing ceremony. Indira Malwatte, Chairperson and CEO of Sri Lanka Export Development Board, who is also Sri Lanka’s Commissioner General for Expo 2020 Dubai, signed the Participation Contract with Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director of Dubai Expo Bureau in the presence of deputy Minister Nalin Bandara and Consul General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and Northern Emirates, Charitha Yattogoda. Sri Lanka’s participation at the event is being spearheaded by the Export Development Board in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders.
Held once in every five years, the World Expo aims to provide an international forum for innovation and creativity, industry and commerce, business opportunities and alliances, against a backdrop of global cooperation. The six month-long Expo 2020 Dubai is a global trade exposition showcasing strengths, capabilities and innovations of over 190 countries and is expected to host over 25 million visitors from across the globe. One of the largest events ever to be staged in the Arab world and the first of its kind across West Asia, South Asia and Africa, Expo 2020 Dubai will be held under the theme ‘Connecting minds, Creating the future’ with the sub themes of ‘Opportunity’, ‘Sustainability’ and ‘Mobility’. The event aims to set the stage for sustainable opportunities and growth across all sectors, harnessing the skills, talents and resources of countries around the world.
Sri Lanka will have its pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai branded as the ‘Island of Ingenuity’. The pavilion, which will occupy an area of 212 sq mts under the sub theme of ‘Opportunity’, will highlight Sri Lanka’s rich portfolio of offerings, as well as promote it as an export hub driven by innovative products and services, thereby attracting Foreign Direct Investments, especially for export – oriented manufacturing.
Sri Lanka’s participation at Expo Dubai 2020 will further enhance the country’s image, showcase Sri Lanka’s quality offerings to the world and help the country connect even more actively with the Arab Gulf region. Further, it will provide opportunities to acquire new technology for Sri Lanka’s export product sectors, generate new knowledge and create international interest and participation through investment in Sri Lanka’s development, trade and tourism.
The Sri Lankan pavilion will showcase the country’s 2500-year heritage in a contemporary context, aligning a rich and ancient history of ingenuity and skill with a modern mindset that continues to drive a culture of innovation and creativity. The Sri Lankan pavilion will feature a wide variety of sectors, including wellness tourism, handloom, apparel, handicrafts, spices and concentrates, gems and jewellery, ICT/BPO, ship and boat building, and much more. Students of Moratuwa University designed the pavilion, based around a central water theme, as Sri Lanka is an island nation embraced by thousands of miles of coastline.
As Sri Lanka’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai is a significant step towards showcasing its potential and capabilities across many sectors, the Export Development Board is inviting Sri Lanka’s leading and emerging entrepreneurs to join this event and be a part of Sri Lanka’s success story. The Sri Lankan delegation visited the Expo 2020 site and also the Sri Lankan pavilion which is under construction. In welcoming the Sri Lankan delegation, the Executive Director of Dubai Expo Bureau, Najeeb Al-Ali provided an update on the progress of construction and arrangements for hosting Expo Dubai 2020. He further explained that 192 countries have already confirmed participation and it will be the most diverse Expo in the world with dedicated pavilions for each individual country. UAE is looking forward to seeing what Sri Lanka has to offer to the world at the Expo, he said.
Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara speaking on the occasion of the signing ceremony appreciated the support given by the UAE government towards Sri Lanka’s participation in the Expo. In her speech, Mrs. Malwatte said that comprehensive groundwork has been done so far by the Sri Lankan Expo 2020 team, as part of its preparations for Expo 2020 Dubai. She said that Sri Lanka’s pavilion will be organised under a Public Private Partnership model and that throughout the six months of the Expo, Sri Lanka will be promoting the main sectors highlighted in the country’s National Export Strategy.
Representing the large number of Sri Lankan professionals based in the UAE, officials from the Sri Lanka Business Council in Dubai and North Emirates, Chartered Accountants Sri Lanka – UAE Chapter and the Sri Lankan Professionals Association were also present during the ceremony, pledging their full support for a successful participation at Expo 2020 Dubai.
In addition to deputy Minister Bandara, Mr. Yattogoda and Mrs. Malwatte, the Sri Lankan delegation included Sesath Thambugala, Director, Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prasanjith Wijethilake, Executive Director of the Board of Investment, Prasad Daluwatte, Director – Events, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, and officials from Sri Lanka Tea Board and Sri Lankan Airlines while key private sector partners were represented by Shiham Marikar, Secretary General of the National Chamber of Exporters, Bandula Dissanayake, Secretary General of National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, and the immediate past president of Sri Lanka Exporters Association.
During the visit to Dubai, the delegation also sought possible avenues of strengthening bilateral economic relations between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates. The visiting Sri Lankan officials met Hamad Buamim, President and CEO and the senior members of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, during which both sides agreed to look into ways of further strengthening the existing economic relationship between the two countries.
Additionally, the delegation held discussions with Abdalla Sultan Al Owais, Chairman and other senior officials of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) that was followed by a joint UAE- Sri Lanka business forum hosted by SCCI and initiated by Sri Lanka’s Consulate General in Dubai to highlight Sri Lanka’s importance as a trade, investment and tourism partner. Speaking at the UAE – Sri Lanka Forum, deputy Minister Bandara pointed out that Sri Lanka has a long-standing cordial relationship with the UAE and this is evident in the fact that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He also noted that Sri Lanka receives a steady stream of visitors from the UAE, with the island annually welcoming around 8,500 visitors from the UAE, who are especially attracted by the country’s rich local culture and natural beauty. “The aim right now is to improve and strengthen the trade, tourism, and investment relationship between the UAE and Sri Lanka,” deputy Minister Bandara said.
The visiting delegation also held discussions with the senior management of Lulu Group International, which is a UAE based leading hypermarket chain in the region, as well as Kamal Vachani, the Group Director of Al Maya Group, which is a leading Dubai-based retails chain that operates supermarkets all over GCC countries. They discussed introducing new Sri Lankan products while enhancing current Sri Lankan exports to the UAE market as well as the other markets in the Middle East, taking advantage of their strong presence in the region. Al Maya enjoys excellent relations with Sri Lankan companies and is importing a large range of FMCG including rice, spices, pickles, coconut milk powder, snacks, coffee and noodles.
The Sri Lankan delegation also visited the Lulu Group International Regional Office in Dubai. The team from Lulu was headed by Shabu Abdul Majeed, the Director of Retail Operations at the Lulu corporate headquarters. The delegation was briefed on Lulu Group’s current operations in Sri Lanka, from where fresh produce was sourced. Their target is to increase imports from Sri Lanka which amounted to USD 6 million in 2018 to USD 10 million in 2019 with the support of Sri Lankan entrepreneurs. Chairperson and chief executive of EDB, Indira Malwatte proposed that Lulu look into backward integration for selected fresh produce under the island’s “One Product – One Village Program” to support village production. Lulu Group already has a food processing unit at the Export Processing Zone at Katunayake, near the international airport, to export produce to its large chain of hypermarkets in the Middle East.
At a networking event hosted by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka to Dubai at the Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre hotel, members of registered Sri Lankan businesses and professional associations along with community leaders were briefed by Sri Lanka’s Expo 2020 team on the preparations being made for the country’s participation in the Expo, as well as ascertaining their views and suggestions, and how they could contribute towards ensuring Sri Lanka enjoys a successful Expo 2020.
