Over 42 Chinese companies to attend mega exhibition at Sri Lanka

Eighty-one foreign companies including 42 from China will arrive in Sri Lanka to attend a mega trade exhibition being held on the sidelines of a major Commonwealth summit, an official said here Thursday. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be hosted by Sri Lanka from Nov. 10 to 17. It will be the most important event attended by the 53 member countries of the Commonwealth and will also feature a business forum that aims to attract 2 billion U.S. dollars of investment to the island. On the sidelines of CHOGM, the Sri Lankan government has organized a trade and investment exhibition titled "Reflections of Sri Lanka," which aims to attract investment to local companies. Eighty-one foreign companies, including machinery and hi-tech equipment exhibitors from key hotspot markets such as China (42), India (21), Germany (4), Pakistan (4), Japan (3), South Korea (2), Canada (1), Thailand, UK and Dubai, have enlisted for "Reflections " already. Furthermore, over 800 prospective buyers have come forward to enlist for "Reflections of Sri Lanka," said Sri Lanka's Trade Ministry in a statement. Buyer delegations from South Africa, China, India and Iran will also be visiting the exhibition. China is also expected to send a large delegation to attend the Commonwealth Business Forum, which will take place in parallel with CHOGM and the trade exhibition. The international participants have enlisted through online registration and through the Sri Lankan missions in their respective countries. According to Sri Lanka's Export Development Board (EDB), 579 local exhibitors in small and medium industries, tourism, trade and investment have already come forward to enlist for the trade exposition. The 579 consists of 355 exporters and 200 small and medium exhibitors and 24 local machinery exhibitors. "CHOGM and all connected meetings next month have been made to strengthen the opportunities for broadening the tourism industry and investment opportunities of Sri Lanka,"Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa told reporters. He insisted that Sri Lanka is ready to welcome leaders from over 50 countries and all preparations are almost completed.