Lankan Trade Delegation forges strong business links with Australia

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Melbourne (SLCG) and the Sri Lanka-Australia Chamber of Commerce (SLACC), successfully organized a trade delegation to Melbourne, Australia, from September 2-6, 2024.

This mission was a follow-up to the Aboriginal Economic Development Group’s visit to Sri Lanka in September 2023, which laid the groundwork for expanding trade between the two nations. As a key event, the delegation underscored Sri Lanka’s potential in key export areas such as Ceylon Tea, spices, processed food, coconut-based products, and food packaging.

Delegates were privileged to attend the Fine Food Australia 2024, the largest trade event in Australia for the food, packaging and hospitality industry. This exhibition, known for showcasing cutting-edge products and top suppliers, offered the Sri Lankan participants an unparalleled opportunity to meet with international partners, secure valuable deals, and explore trends that could be incorporated into Sri Lanka’s food export industry.

Sri Lankan delegation participated in Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings organized by the SLCG and SLACC during the visit. SLCG has invited Sri Lanka Business Council in Melbourne for business meetings to partner with the Sri Lankan delegates. The delegation continued with another round of B2B meetings with Kinaway Chamber of Commerce – Melbourne with the participation of members of other chambers such as Finland Australia Chamber of Commerce and Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Australia.

The Kinaway Global Alliance received a Sri Lankan delegation at the Victorian Parliament House where delegates had the chance to connect with the members of Victorian Parliament and engage with local industry leaders and indigenous business owners during the networking session. To gain insights into the retail supply chain in Australia, the delegates visited a distribution center enabling them to explore how their products could integrate into local markets.

The delegates met NornieBero, CEO and Founder of MabuMabu, an indigenous Australian food business renowned for its commitment to showcasing native ingredients and sustainable food practices.MabuMabu, is a unique food Business that focuses on bringing Indigenous Australian ingredients to the forefront of the culinary world. NornieBero, a celebrated chef and cultural ambassador, was enthusiastic about the potential business collaborations with the Sri Lankan delegation.

Delegates attended an information sharing session on Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) organized by the SLCG with the participation of the officials of Australia Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.This trade mission, facilitated by the EDB,opened numerous doors for Sri Lankan exporters in the Australian market.

The participation of influential figures, such as Nornie Bero, CEO of Mabu Mabu, marked a significant milestone for Sri Lankan food exports to Australia. With Mabu Mabu now exploring the possibility of sourcing food products from Sri Lanka, the mission stands as a testament to the opportunities for Sri Lankan exporters to supply premium products to the Australian market.

This outward trade delegation was an important step towards increasing awareness among Sri Lankan exporters of the Australian market.

The delegation comprised 17 Sri Lankan companies, each selected through an interview process for their excellence in the food industry. The participating companies were Bespice Ltd, Black Tea Exports (Pvt) Ltd, CAP Organic Ltd, Ceylbee International Ltd, Ceylon Beverage Can Ltd, Derana Marketing Services Ltd, Enrich Tea & Food Exports Ltd, Finch Foods Private Limited and Freelan Enterprises Ltd, Haritha Ceylon Ltd, Hero Nature Products Ltd, Lihini Nature Products Ltd, Maharaja Foods Limited, Manchiee De Coco Products, Sena Mills Refineries Exports Ltd, Unistar International Ltd. and Wewelwala Mills Ltd.