Sri Lanka’s spice sector will come under fresh spotlight this year as it gears up to host the International Pepper Community’s Annual International Conference 2024.
In addition to showcasing the island nation’s array of spices, the hosting of the event will allow Sri Lanka to witness an increased influx of international visitors, which in turn will help generate high revenue from tourism and support tourism industry stakeholders.

On Monday, Cabinet approval was given to the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries to hold the International Conference this year.
The nod was given with a view reaching agreements on the areas of exchanging technical and economic research results related to pepper production among member countries, develop and promote programmes for traditional and new markets, and promote cooperation in the reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers in international trade.

In 1972, the main pepper producing countries of the world established the International Pepper Community under the Economic and Social Commission of the United Nations in the Asia and Pacific region. Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam are the main and permanent member countries of this organisation. Sri Lanka became a permanent member of the International Pepper Community in 2002 and has held its annual international conferences here in 1999, 2006, 2012 and 2017.