Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Exposition 2021 was held from 24-26 September at the Canton Fair complex, in Guangzhou, organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Guangdong Committee and Department of Commerce of Guangdong.
The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Guangzhou, participated with a country pavilion, consisting of 36 square metres, designed and decorated by the Consulate. Visitors were enticed to the pavilion due to its diverse attractions in vibrant colours embossed on its walls and showcasing prominent tourist and archeological sites in Sri Lanka as well as some handicrafts.
The Consulate with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), organized the participation of agents of 08 Sri Lankan companies, located in China, consisting of latex products, gem & jewellery, handicrafts ‘Ceylon tea’, biscuits, kittul pani and coconut oil. The Sri Lankan Airlines Office based in Guangzhou also participated in the fair.
The Consul General of Sri Lanka in Guangzhou, Priyangika Dharmasena was interviewed by Nanfang Daily, on the event and on the relationship between Guangzhou and Sri Lanka, as Guangzhou develops into a hub city in the Belt and Road Initiative.
The fair is a platform to promote one’s culture, tourism, trade and investment. It is an annual event, which commenced in 2014 in Dongguan city in Guangdong province and subsequently in Guangzhou.
In the years 2014 and 2019 as well, the Consulate in coordination with EDB had participated in the exposition with many Sri Lankan companies, in varied sectors as coir, tea, apparel, gems & jewellery and handicrafts.
Over 1,200 international and local branded companies, including 43 consulates and embassies from Guangzhou as well as Beijing participated, while there were more than 700,000 people who visited the exposition online and offline.