The ProFood ProPack & Ag-biz 2023 exhibition is scheduled to be held from 4th to 6th of August 2023 at BMICH Exhibitions Centre, Colombo. This event will be the biggest food show that provide opportunity to showcase the latest developments ‘from Farm to Fork’ in the industry.
Organized by the Sri Lanka Food Processors Association (SLFPA) together with Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd (LECS) and endorsed and supported by the National Agri Business Council (NAC) and the Ministry of Industries, who have extended consistent support over the years towards promoting the participation of small & medium scale businesses and operates a separate pavilion dedicated to them.
The Institute of Food Science Technology of Sri Lanka (IFSTSL) is the technical arm of SLFPA which organize the industrial & scientific seminars during the exhibition. The ‘Innovation Pavilion’ is dedicated to the undergraduates of Food Science Technology and the Export Development Board (EDB) will have a separate pavilion. In addition, institutes such as Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), the NERD Centre, Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI), Industrial Development Board (IDB), Sri Lanka Institute of Nano Technology (SLINTEC) and the National Packaging Centre to showcase their services & activities to the visitors.
There will be a stall designated to the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to help the industry stakeholders to educate on various regulations in force. Exhibitors from India, China and the GIZ which facilitates the “Good Market “pavilion will be among foreign participants.
Every year this event is supported by many sponsors in the categories of Platinum, Gold and Silver and these numbers have increased year on year. Held since 2003 this mega annual trade show provides opportunity for local as well as international businesses to meet, interact and connect, emerging as the most sought-after industry event of the year in the food industry calendar.
Apart from showcasing the entire value chain links, this trade fair significantly provides a rare opportunity for wide-scale networking, knowledge sharing & information dissemination, with many side events lined up to create a better cohesion among technical & functional sectors within the food, packaging and Agri industry.
The additional representation of Agri, Poultry, Livestock and Floriculture sectors will ensure the event as a complete one-stop – shop food industry solution. The event will represent the whole of Sri Lanka and create a backdrop for promoting the national unity of the nation, alongside economic growth, sustainability and food security.
The machinery sector will showcase the latest innovations and technologies developed internationally and the agriculture industry will exhibit new concepts ranging from soil nutrition to post harvesting solutions.
Sri Lankan food industry-based innovations will be presented by the multiple national universities in the country through the Food Science Faculties which take part in this event. All the innovations that are presented are evaluated by an expert panel of judges in the spheres of food processing, commercially viable product manufacturing, green innovation, and food safety.
As in other years the best innovations will be recognized and rewarded. Few such innovations that were displayed in the previous years have been commercialized very successfully with the help of the corporate members of SLFPA.
Therefore, akin to its past record, the 2023 ProFood ProPack & Ag-biz exhibition is expected to contribute immensely to the national economy by way of providing exposure to small, medium as well as large Food Processors.
President Elect SLFPA and Chairman of Organizing Committee of ProFood ProPack & Ag-biz 2022 Mr. Thusith Wijesinghe stated that a rapid growth in participation recorded among the exhibitors over the years owing to this trade fair signifying an iconic status under one roof with Processors, food packaging and packaging machinery manufacturers.
Mr. Vasantha Chandrapala, the Chairman of Pro Foods/ Pack Ag-biz 2023 Organizing Committee explained that the participation of a record number of exhibitors are expected this year. A notable number of international Exhibitors from Thailand, China and India have already confirmed their participation and more registrations are expected, he said.
Delano Dias, the President of the Sri Lanka Food Processors Association (SLFPA) explained that the organization, incorporated in 1997, is today the apex body representing small, medium as well as large scale food processors in the country directly linking over 300,000 food industry practitioners and 4 million back-end producers island wide.
“It is the most progressive food industry show of innovations from all sectors that we present each year to the general public of Sri Lanka and the world. ProFood ProPack & Ag-biz had grown immensely over the years and the biggest exhibition site locally – the BMICH is not enough to accommodate the numerous requests we get for stall space.”
“The member companies of the SLFPA consist of manufacturers of Food Ingredients, Grocery products, Confectionery and Bakery products, Frozen Foods, Fruit and Vegetable based products, Beverages (carbonated & Non-Carbonated), Spice Processors and Exporters, Fish & Meat Processors, Essential Oil Producers and Support Service Providers to the food industry (Packaging, Packaging Machinery),” he stated.
The Sri Lanka Food Processors Association (SLFPA) therefore is honored to be the forerunner in bringing together and providing synergy to the annual exhibition and trade-fair which has emerged as a focal point for Sri Lanka’s food industry as a whole.
The organisers are specifically mindful of the socio-economic context in which this event is held, amidst many local businesses developing local substitutes following the import restrictions imposed during the recent years to combat the national economic crisis. Hence the 20th edition of the exhibition is expected to be a direct boost to Sri Lankan food entrepreneurs, exporters and food related inventors, especially from rural areas.
The organisers point out that though the country faced setbacks during the last two years, it also gave potential for new entrepreneurs to explore expansion in new territories in product innovation when catering to the Food Processing Industry. The pavilion facilitated by the Ministry of Industries to small scale entrepreneurs from rural areas will this year too provide a major boost to showcasing the traditional food sectors and assist in the reaching of international markets.
The organisers note that it is paramount that the Sri Lankan economy bounces back to its potential following the economic depression and global pandemic related hindrances faced during the last three years.
In this aftermath, signifying a resolute and resilient food industry, the ” ProFood ProPack & Ag-biz” will project the capabilities and capacities held by Sri Lanka as a locally held event with a global focus, with over fourteen sponsors already represented. The Chinese industry participation is expected to compliment Chinese travel and tourism interest in Sri Lanka, while an increased number of Indian companies are also anticipated, surpassing the total present, last year.
Hence the 2023 ProFood ProPack & Ag-biz exhibition is a celebration of the resilience of the Sri Lankan food industry. The Sri Lanka Food Processors Association (SLFPA) is the main organizer of the event and Lanka Exhibition & Conference Services Pvt Ltd (LECS) is the Professional Exhibition Organiser of the event.
