Strengthening the gathering momentum ahead of the World Export Development Forum (WEDF) 2016, to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on the 12th and 13th of October, a trade delegation representing Sweden has confirmed their participation. The two-day summit heralded to be an unprecedented benchmark for the export industry of the country, is organized collaboratively by the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB) and the International Trade Centre (ITC).

Participation of the Swedish delegation was confirmed at a meeting between Mr. Leif Ivan Ohlson, Secretary General of the Sweden-Sri Lanka Business Council, headquartered in Stockholm with Mrs. Indira Malwatte, Chairperson of EDB, held last week.

Mr. Ohlson confirmed the participation of a Swedish delegation at the World Export Development Forum (WEDF), B2B session, which is expected to attract the cream of the local export fraternity. Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Ohlson commented on the need to promote trade between the two countries, emphasizing the potential for establishing new, long-standing relationships for the future. He further expressed his strong interest in assisting Sri Lanka to do more trade with Sweden and the Nordic Region at large.

In the past, Mr. Ohlson has completed a tenure as the Head of District for the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission in Batticaloa and has made significant contributions towards reviving the Sweden-Sri Lanka Business Council and now works closely with the Sri Lanka Mission in Sweden.

The B2B session has been conceived with the intention of providing an open platform for businesses to seek out opportunities that exist in the global market and will place focus on ICT, Food and Beverages, Tea, Coconut and Coconut related products, Spices and Spa Products.

Mrs. Malwatte also took the opportunity to seek assistance from Mr. Ohlson to form a collaboration in order to acquire technology for the development of quality packaging for spa products, targeted for the Swedish market. She further inquired regarding the potential opportunity for Sri Lankan rubber automobile part manufacturers to connect with the Volvo supply chain.

The conference will be worked out on the 12th and 13th of October 2016. The EDB has continued to release information related to the conference in the lead-up to the conference dates on the dedicated web portal: www.wedf.edb.gov.lk

The agenda for the conference, speaker lists and information regarding fringe events will be made available on the web portal as and when they become available. For further information related to sponsorship opportunities and participation contact : Mrs. Anoma Premathilake, Director/Market Development, 2300720/ 071822052

Photo Caption: From left: Mrs. Udeni Wijekoon - Deputy Director/ Market Development of the EDB, Mrs. Anoma Premathilake, Director/ Market Development of the EDB, Mr. Leif Ivan Ohlson, Secretary General of the Sweden-Sri Lanka Business Council, and Mrs. Indira Malwatte, Chairperson & Chief Executive of the EDB confirming the participation of the Swedish delegation for WEDF 2016 at the EDB.