The Salon International de l’Agroalimentaire (SIAL) - one of the largest food innovation exhibitions in the world dedicated to the agri and retail food industries and institutional and commercial catering, was held in Paris, France from October 21 to 25 with the participation of 7, 200 exhibitors from 110 countries representing 85% international exhibitors and 160,000 trade visitors from 194 countries.
The Export Development Board (EDB) organised a national pavilion in the country pavilion section at SIAL 2018. Fourteen Sri Lankan companies participated in the fair to promote a range of food and beverages products such as tea, spices, essential oils, coconut kernel based products such as coconut milk, cream, coconut flour and VCO, confectionery products and dehydrated and canned fruit. As per the exhibitor feedback the companies have received positive business inquires and orders worth US$. 285,000. The new companies that participated for the first time at SIAL have received a good feedback from companies.
“The participants got wide exposure by meeting international buyers and visiting some of the buyers to get fist hand experience,” an EDB official said.
The EDB arranged successful business meetings with leading buyers in France for companies promoting coconut products. The Bio Group, a major coconut based products importing company in France made a visit to Sri Lanka from November 7 to 10 to outsource organic coconut based ingredients. They visited factories of value added coconut product export companies they met at the Sri Lanka Pavilion.
This visit has opened export markets for a new product produced by a Sri Lanka exporter (having 50/60mt of 100% organic and fair trade certified coconut milk production capacity) who participated at SIAL for the first time.
The participating companies were able to find new buyers for their products and strengthen existing business contacts. They had a good opportunity to network with leading companies in the F&B sector. There are more than 300 inquiries to follow up on.
