“More than 300 exhibitors from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and China are taking part at this year’s event” said Minister of Industry, Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Cooperative Development, Skills Development & Vocational Training Rishad Bathiudeen after visiting the event on 4 August. “The 18th edition also shows that this event is increasingly becoming one of the largest food, beverages, packaging and agri-business related events in South Asia”” he said and added: “Originally commenced by our Ministry in 2001, it has now become a platform for networking by the local and international participants from these sectors.”

The 18^th in the series has 300 exhibitor stalls with an India pavilion for 67 Indian firms. Despite safety concerns visitor numbers have surged by 25% compared to last year, to total 20000 by mid-day 4 August. The expo also has 7 Chinese and even Bangladeshi firms. Indian food and agri-multinationals such as Goma Process Technologies, and Vibgyor International are part of this expo.  All major Lankan brands  in food processing and packaging –including Cargills, Bairaha, CBL Foods International, CIC, Darley, Harischandra Mills, Hayleys, Jagro, MA’s Tropical Food etc-are also part of the expo. Vice Prersident Marketing of Goma Process Technologies Srinivas Sondur said that despite safety concerns surrounding  after Easter Sunday bombings, Goma Process Technologies, the leading brand in India for liquid food machinery processing supplies such as yoghurt and milk products, “is pleased to join the Colombo expo””. “We have been coming to this series for the last eight years and in our view the bombings were only a passing situation’ said Sonduur, and added: “We have no worries in coming to Sri Lanka and will continue to come even in future. We are a leading supplier to local companies in liquid food machinery processing and have supplied to 40 Sri Lankan companies already. Despite the safety concerns, our orders this year in Colombo have not fallen except for one or two categories” he said.  The privately held Goma Process Technologies was established in 1982 and is now one top three process technology suppliers in India.