Industry

3rd South Asia Agri Forum to take place in Colombo on 15-16 January

The 3rd South Asia Agri Forum is set to take place on 15-16 January 2025 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This event aims to bring together leaders, experts, and business decision-makers from South Asia and beyond to discuss key issues in the agri-food sector. With Sri Lanka’s strategic location linking the East and West, it serves as the perfect venue for this important gathering. Organised by the Bharat Subcontinent Agri Foundation in collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka, this forum will focus on strengthening regional cooperation, enhancing food security, and boosting agri-trade. Under the theme "Global South for Global South (GS2)", discussions will center on improving food security, promoting investment, and exploring ways to increase intra-regional trade in essential agricultural sectors such as grains, rice, sugar, pulses, spices, horticulture, fisheries, and plantations.

This event will feature over 100 thought leaders and industry experts, with key Government officials,business leaders, and international partners from countries like the UAE, Singapore, Australia, Canada, and the USA. The agenda includes high-level talks, strategic government-to-government agreements, and a Regional Agri-Food-Tech Startups Incubation Investment Symposium (RAIIS) to encourage innovation in agriculture. This will provide Sri Lanka with an opportunity to showcase its role in the global agri-food sector and to further its economic development. By promoting dialogue and collaboration, the event aims to drive new business opportunities, attract investment, and support Sri Lanka’s vision for sustainable and inclusive agri-trade policies. The forum has previously been held in Kathmandu, Nepal (2023) and Bangkok, Thailand (2024), with over 1,000 business leaders and dignitaries from across 20 countries. The 2025 forum is anticipated to play a crucial role in advancing regional cooperation and Sri Lanka’s leadership in the agri-food sector. Dr. Abdul Cader Mahmud, Country Representative (Sri Lanka) for the foundation can be contacted at [email protected] for further information.