Seven sourcing directors representing five major companies in Oman met 45 Sri Lankan exporters to identify business opportunities and establish business partnerships.
Sri Lankan exporters represented business sectors such as tea, rubber, coconut, rice, processed food, fresh fruits and vegetables, and herbal medicine. The business meetings were initiated by the Export Development Board with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Oman. The Omani businessmen who took part were from Hypermarket chains in Oman. Their main objective was to identify export potential product sectors in Sri Lanka, in particular the range of agricultural products to be promoted at the renowned hypermarkets in Oman.
This delegation will create more business opportunities and thus increase exports to the Oman market from Sri Lanka.
The EDB plans to arrange a visit of another delegation from Oman at the end of this year enabling more opportunities for Sri Lanka’s export community. Oman is the 59th largest export economy in the world. It is the 13th export destination among the Middle East countries for Sri Lanka.
Total trade between Oman and Sri Lanka was US$ 45 million last year. The value of exports was US $ 7 million and imports US$ 38 million. The leading export products were desiccated coconut, mattresses, tea, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and processed food and Sri Lanka’s main imports from Oman are petroleum products, light oils, polymers, unwrought aluminum and amino resins.
The EDB is working very closely with the Sri Lankan Embassies in targeted markets to identify prospective importers for selected products and services to organize B2B meetings followed by factory visits which will give confidence to buyers of the high quality standards conformed to and the supply chain efficiencies for sustainable delivery of products and services.