Home » New York based CEMS-Global keen on building convention centre in Sri Lanka

New York based CEMS-Global keen on building convention centre in Sri Lanka

by malinga
March 1, 2024 1:09 am 0 comment

The CEMS-Global based in New York, a Multinational Exhibition & Convention Organizer, which opened four appareled exhibitions that end on Sunday at the Sri Lanka Exhibition & Convention Centre (SLECC) yesterday said it’s keen to build and operate a new convention centre in Sri Lanka.

Group CEO of CEMS-Global USA, S. S. Sarwar, said that they will invest 100% in this project and requested suitable land in Colombo for this from the government. He said that they feel that Sri Lanka can play a major role as an apparel sourcing hub to the region and by having a large convention hall they could host many apparel sourcing events.

CEMS Global USA’s B2B Trade Exhibitions span various industries and 4 continents, and one of its notable series focuses on the Textile sector.Their Textile Series of Exhibitions which are held in Bangladesh, Brazil, Morocco, Sri Lanka and Thailand; serve as a vital platform for global manufacturers of the textile and apparel sector to come together, tap highly potential markets, and showcase the latest trends, products, and technologies.

Chairman of Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Saif Jafferjee said that Sri Lanka had been talking about the ‘apparel hub’ concept for over a decade and the time is now ripe to implement it.

He also said that the apparel industry is expected to bounce back from mid this year. State Minister of Investment Promotion Dilum Amunugama, inaugurating the exhibitions as the Chief Guest promised to follow up this request. He also said that the proposed Economic commission Act will play a major role towards reducing government red tape which he called a ‘menace’ and should change like in India.

He also said he would support the apparel hub concept. Chairman of Industrial Development Board of Ceylon, Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma, said that since apparel is a USD 1.8 trillion industry, the government is focusing towards this segment. “Hosting of this exhibition will give a good opportunity for the SME sector to acquire new technology and even purchase machinery and other accessories.”

Chairman and CEO of Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) Dr. Kingsley Bernard, said they exposed several Sri Lanka companies to the world exhibitions at MAGIC, USA, Middle East EXPO and BOI Pak Germany giving local companies an opportunity to interact with global buyers. Chairman of Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) Indika Liyanahewage said that the government should instruct local embassies to play a bigger role to promote local apparels to their country markets. “Today many countries only know Sri Lanka as a tourism destination but fewknow it as an apparel producing country.”

Shirajiv Sirimane

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