SL seen as best venue for mega apparel sourcing exhibition; her ‘resilience’ a plus factor

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

A leading Mumbai based trade promotion organization has selected Sri Lanka as one of the best venues to host a mega apparel sourcing exhibition, given the country’s resilient situation owing to internal and external shocks.

“Sri Lankan is a country that is very much quite resilient to any external or internal shock and could bounce back easily. The apparel sector, which brings foreign reserves into the country, though facing a dip will turn around by the end of the year, Executive Director, World India Exhibition and Promotion Pvt. Ltd, (WORLDEX) Arti Bhagat said.

“Despite all the setbacks we intend to host a mega Sri Lanka apparel sourcing exhibition, INTEX South Asia, in Sri Lanka at the BMICH on August 10, 11 and 12 this year after a lapse of several years, Bhagat told The Island Financial Review.

Bhagat added: “We are expecting more than 120 stalls from nine countries, including India, China, Korea, Pakistan, Indonesia, UK and Bangladesh, besides several other countries. So far we have got clear support from the Sri Lankan authorities and other visiting countries.

“The current economic pressures are not something unique to Sri Lanka and are a global phenomenon resulting from the Ukraine-Russia war and the economic recession in some European countries. Bangladesh too is facing a similar issue, being one of the leading apparel exporters of the world.

“Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were affected owing to the fact that they do not have a sizable domestic market, unlike India.

“Our company saw a huge potential in the Sri Lanka apparel sector and decided to hold their first exhibition in Sri Lanka in 2015 and then had regular events in Bangladesh and India. We have to date held five INTEX exhibitions in Sri Lanka, three in Bangladesh and two in India.

“We still see a raw material issue for the Sri Lankan apparel sector and through our exhibitions we meet global suppliers along with local manufacturers. Already over 100 companies from the USA, UK, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have said that they will participate.

“The exhibition is also supported by apparel related associations and ministries. In addition, this year some of the companies will also bring modern technology used in the apparel sector to be deployed in Sri Lanka.

“With our excellent mix of international and regional exhibitors, Intex South Asia is the perfect platform for textile and apparel SMEs keen to do business internationally.

“The Expo will create powerful opportunities to increase exports of textile and clothing products to EU and non-EU markets. We will also host several technical seminars related to the apparel sector during the event.”