German sourcing conference explores opportunities in Sri Lanka for German importers of food and apparels
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) had reportedly organised a German Sourcing Conference for German importers of food and apparel to match them with Sri Lankan exporters and related business associations in cooperation with the German Asia Pacific Business Association (OAV). The conference was held last week.
The conference was opened by German Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Holger Seubert and Chief Delegate of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka Andreas Hergenröther, who have reportedly noted, “Germany has been for consecutive years Sri Lanka’s third largest export market. Even during the pandemic in 2020 Sri Lankan exports to Germany reached 718 Mio. Euro. German companies have been sourcing for many years apparel and food products, but there is an unexploited potential – in particular in the field of organic products.”
Chairman of Sri Lanka’s Export Development Board (EDB), Suresh de Mel had reportedly given an extended overview of Sri Lankan export capacities.
Former Commissioner of human rights of the German government Markus Loening, who works in a joint project with AHK Sri Lanka and Friedrich Naumann Foundation, had underlined the importance of sustainable supply chains as a competitive advantage to get market access to the EU and Germany. Most German and European importers and retailers have requested sustainability certifications such as BSCI, SA 8000, SMETA, etc.
Furthermore, GIZ representative Anika Kiefer had introduced the ‘develoPPP-programme’ of the German Ministry of Economic cooperation which co-funds private sector driven projects with sustainable development-oriented objectives up to a maximum of 2 Mio. Euro.
According to reports, since July 2020 GIZ and AHK Sri Lanka have partnered to support Sri Lankan exporters of organic food products with German importers and retailers. Conferences with integrated B2B meetings, which needed to be postponed due to the current pandemic, are planned for the upcoming months in Kandy, Dambulla and Trincomalee.
In the upcoming months, AHK Sri Lanka is planning on intensifying its support for Sri Lankan exporters and matchmaking opportunities will be continuously provided.
The Sri Lankan pavilions at the world’s leading fairs International Green Week and Fruit Logistica in 2022 are also being planned.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka is being aggressively promoted as a business/investment destination. Sri Lanka’s geographical positioning in the Indian ocean and the many trade agreements as well as trade concessions enjoyed by the country have poised the island as a business hub in the South Asian region. Sri Lanka already enjoys trade concessions from the EU and US along with several functional free trade agreements with foreign countries. With Sri Lanka launching an aggressive development programme, there are many potential opportunities growing in the country. Businesses/investors from Germany could therefore confidently explore business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20210512/Z_2 |