The Sri Lankan embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the Coconut Development Authority of Sri Lanka, successfully organized the first ever participation of ten Sri Lankan companies manufacturing coconut-based products, at the 41st edition of the Saudi Agriculture Expo 2024 held in Riyadh from October 21 to 24 2024. 

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ameer Ajwad officially inaugurated the Sri Lankan pavilion at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, a statement from the mission said.

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Ajwad said that the participation of a large number of Sri Lankan companies manufacturing coconut based products for the first time at this most popular 40 years old Saudi Agriculture Expo in the Middle East region was a big breakthrough. He also urged other Sri Lankan Agri sector companies to make use of this opportunity to showcase their products in the years to come. He stressed that such participation would immensely help to boost Sri Lanka’s export products at the international markets and facilitate to expand Sri Lanka export basket. 

The Ambassador also underscored the relevance of participation by Sri Lanka’s coco peat exporting companies at the Saudi Agriculture Expo in the light of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious ‘Green Initiative’ which aims to plant 10 million trees as part of its Vision 2030. Sri Lanka’s high-quality coco peat, a preferred growing medium in arid climates, could be promoted to support such green initiatives.

HH Prince Mutab bin Fahd bin Farhan, Advisor to His Highness the Chairman of the Board of Directors of King Abdulaziz Reserve and King Salman Reserve,  Assistant Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia Dr. Ali Alshaikhi and the Vice President of the Federation of Chambers of Saudi Arabia and the Chairman of Saudi NAF Group of companies Fayez Al-Shaheeli visited the Sri Lanka pavilion at the invitation extended by Ambassador Ameer Ajwad and held productive discussions. 

Sri Lanka’s trade delegation also had a networking session with the representatives of the Saudi Green Building Forum at the sidelines of the Expo. Ambassador Ajwad hosted a luncheon in honour of the Sri Lanka trade delegation to the Saudi Agriculture Expo and held a feedback session with the delegation. 

More than 370 exhibitors from 29 countries participated at this 41st edition of Saudi Agriculture Expo where leading Agri sector companies from all around the globe participated to showcase their products including cutting-edge technologies and solutions in agriculture sector. Insightful conferences and discussions led by industry experts and entrepreneurs, were organized during the Expo for networking and to create new trade opportunities among the participants in the agricultural sector.

Sri Lankan companies which participated at the Saudi Agriculture Expo 2024 include Dew Cocos Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Earthscape (pvt) Ltd , Eco Soil Substrates (Pvt) Ltd , FNF Exports Ltd , Hardy Export Company (Pvt) Ltd, M.C. Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd , Thuselco Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Tropical Green Exports (Pvt) Ltd, Eco Trends (Pvt) Ltd and Hayleys PLC.