Sri Lanka to boost exports through participation at world’s largest consumer goods show in Germany
Sri Lankan companies are reportedly looking at boosting exports by securing new buyers at Ambiente 2020, the world’s largest consumer goods show ongoing in Frankfurt, Germany.
According to local media reports, five companies are participating at the event and they are Dankotuwa Porcelain Plc (Hall 6.12) along with its sister company Royal Fernwood Porcelain Ltd., Art Decoration International Ltd. (Hall 9.2) specialising in decorative ceramic ware; handloom products specialist Selyn Exporters Ltd. (Hall 9.3), wooden educational toys exporter Gospel House Handicrafts Ltd. (Hall 9.3) and artificial flowers exporter AMP Ceylon Ltd. (Hall 9.2).
They are among over 4,600 global exhibitors from over 90 countries participating at the five-day Ambiente 2020 organised by Messe Frankfurt. The trade fair began last Friday and ends on Tuesday (11), the Daily FT has reported.
These companies annually participate in Ambiente given its importance as well effectiveness in reaching new buyers but this year, as the Daily FT covering the mega global show in Frankfurt has found out, expectations remain high given their ongoing or planned expansions to increase prospects of exports.
They have told Daily FT that apart from scouting for new buyers, Ambiente also enables them to showcase and meet existing customers and business partners.
Taking a 34-squaremetre stall Dankotuwa Porcelain and Royal Fernwood have displayed the widest collection of popular tableware as well as some new designs and products, including those with transparent colours and with reactive glazes, which let colours stand out, as well as porcelain water canisters discouraging use of plastics.
“Ambiente is the most critical for us,” Channa Gunawardana, the CEO of Dankotuwa Porcelain Plc has said.
The Bandaragama-based Art Decoration International Ltd. (ADI), which specialises in decorative ceramic ware, has also been a regular Ambiente participant since 1996.
Set up in 1992, the ADI has a production capacity of $ 8 million and some of it is being rolled out this year. It does around $ 2.5 million in exports and is positioning and marketing itself as South Asia’s largest decorative ceramic ware manufacturer.
ADI Managing Director S.H.B. Karunaratne and Director Dilanga Karunaratne has said Ambiente was a very useful trade fair to secure new buyers. It exports to over 40 countries, with Scandinavian nations being the biggest customers, followed by US, Europe, the Middle East and Australia New Zealand.
Among the Lankan companies at Ambiente are two World Fair Trade Organisation guaranteed exporters – Selyn and Gospel House Handicrafts.
The fact that both companies have been participating for many decades proves the success of Ambiente.
“For us Ambiente is responsible for 80% of our exports,” Selyn Exporters Ltd. Director Business Development Selyna Peiris has said.
Wooden educational toys exporter Gospel House Handicrafts Managing Director Shiran Karunaratne exports to 26 countries with a personal goal of adding one new market annually.
Like all other Lankan exhibitors, Gospel House is also open to produce as per customer-inspired designs. At Ambiente this week he met an interested buyer from Norway, a market he hasn’t yet served. “So I have set Norway as the new market to win in 2020,” Karunaratne has said, adding that Hong Kong was the latest acquired in 2019.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka is focused on boosting the country’s exports sector. Sri Lanka enjoys many trade agreements as well as trade concessions. Also, Sri Lanka’s geographical positioning in the Indian Ocean and the ease of doing business environment in the country have made the island an attractive business/investment destination in the South Asian region. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore explore business opportunities in Sri Lanka’s exports sector.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/17022020/Z_5 |