The High Commission of Canada is pleased to announce the participation of 10 small and medium sized exporters to the international food and beverage trade show SIAL Canada 2017 to be held from 2 to 4 May in Toronto, Canada. In addition to the trade show, these companies will also be participating in a business to business meeting session with Canadian importers as well as undergo a market orientation of Canada.
The program is facilitated by the Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) of Canada, the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB) and the Sri Lankan Consulate General in Toronto. The TFO is a Canadian non-government organization founded by the Government of Canada in 1980. Their mandate is to improve lives by the creation of sustainable economic development through trade with Canada. The TFO Canada helps to make trade happen for over 1,200 exporters from developing countries, over 1,200 trade support institutions and more than 1,600 Canadian importers. The EDB has entered into an agreement with the TFO as part of their export development activities and through this agreement. TFO Canada will support Sri Lanka for a period of 4 years from 2015 to 2018.
Meeting with the exporters’ delegation today at the Official Residence, High Commissioner of Canada to Sri Lanka, H.E. Shelley Whiting stated that “we are pleased to see these trade and promotional activities take place in support of growth of trade and economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Canada. In Canada, we call SME’s engines of economic growth. Support to small and medium sized enterprise creates jobs and supports economic and export diversification which is critical to Sri Lanka’s economy. Through the TFO, Canada is supporting these potential exporters looking to expand into the Canadian market.  I wish you the best at SIAL and look forward to hearing about the opportunities you have explored upon your return”.
The Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) is the Canadian government’s network of Trade professionals. In Sri Lanka the TCS engages with the Sri Lankan government and the private sector to promote Canadian goods and services, facilitate innovation and R&D, as well as build networks between the two countries such as the TFO with the EDB in Sri Lanka.