Eight Sri Lankan export companies participated at the annual Tripoli International Trade Fair in Libya, a press release said. This was a good opportunity for exporters to display their products as the temporary suspension of eight years of trade sanctions imposed by the UN had just been lifted.

Sri Lanka’s participation at this fair was to introduce a number of products to the Libyan market as our exports were confined to tea. It was also expected to increase the present export levels to this significant emerging North African market. A wide range of value added products such as dehydrated fruits and vegetables, spices and essential oil, desiccated coconut, coir products and cashew nuts were displayed at the fair.

The participation of Sri Lankan exporters at this fair was organized by the Export Development Board (EDB) for the first time and the Sri Lanka Pavilion was declared opened by Rauff Hakeem, Minister of Trade and Commerce.

Many trade contacts were established not only with Libyan marketing institutions, but also with other countries such as Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. Eight exporters obtained trial orders for more than US $ 100,000 worth of goods and several inquiries were made. A noteworthy feature is that a buyer from Libya has already placed an order worth US$ 50,000 for the product of "Baraka" blackseeds and pharmaceutical products.

During the Minister’s brief stay in Libya he had bilateral meetings with his counterpart Minister of Trade and the Minister of Religious Affairs of Libya regarding trade expansion between the two countries and other bilateral issues of interest to both countries.

Sri Lanka’s participation at this trade fair was seen by participants as timely since many developing countries, particularly India and Malaysia from the South and South East Asian Region had a significant presence at this exhibition to access this important emerging North African Trading Region.