The Korean Chaebol Lotte Group transferred   “www.ceylontea.com” domain name to the Sri Lanka  Tea Board, with the signing of the  agreement between the two parties at the Lotte World Tower on 09 August 2019. Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tea Board Lucille Wijewardena and Chief Executive Director of the e-Commerce Business Headquarters of the Korean Chaebol Lotte Group Lim Sung-muk signed the agreement on transferring the domain name  which had been owned by the e- Commerce Business Headquarters since 1997.

The e-Commerce Business Headquarters decided to provide the domain name to the Sri Lanka Tea Board on free of charge basis as a result of successful  discussions had by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Republic of Korea in consultation with the Sri Lanka Tea Board, emphasizing the benefits that could be generated to Ceylon tea industry by transferring the  domain.

During the agreement signing ceremony,Charge’ d’ Affaires of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Republic of Korea Jagath Abeywarna extended his deep appreciation to  Chairman of the Korean Chaebol Lotte Group Shin Dong-bin for gifting the domain name as it would be a significant impact to promote Ceylon tea industry in the world.

 During the visit,  Chairman Wijewardena signed a MoU with the  Myung Won Cultural Foundation at the 2019 Myungwon World Tea Expo, on 8 August 2019 to strengthen  business relations between the two parties in the future.

Furthermore, a  meeting was conducted at the Embassy premises  with the participation of importers of Ceylon tea and Heads of Tea Associations  in the Republic of Korea, on 07August 2019 in conjunction  with the visit of Chairman Wijewardena to the Republic of Korea.

On 8August 2019, Charge’ d’ Affaires Abeywarna  and Chairman Wijewardena visited the Tea of Sommelier Institute of the Republic of Korea to explore possibilities for future cooperation.

Sri Lanka High Commission in  Pretoria with the assistance of trade promotional budget of Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka participated Global Trade Show of Networking & Matchmaking South Africa 2019 (GTS 2019 ) held from  29th to 31st July 2019 at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, South Africa. GTS is an international business and trade show, incorporating 4 co-located shows: Tools & Build South Africa (TBS) - focusing on tools, hardware and building supplies; Household & Appliances South Africa (HAS) - focusing on housewares, home appliances and furniture; Smart Electronics & Security Show   (SES) - focusing on smart electronics and security products, as well as the Food & Beverage South Africa (FBS) - focusing on food and beverage products.                                                                                   After the opening ceremony of Sri Lanka Pavilion

The samples, brochures, and banners received from Sri Lankan exporters interested in South African market were displayed visualizing product information ranging from Ceylon tea, biscuits, cosmetic & ayurvedic products, coconut & coir based products, rubber products, textiles, food products, rainwear and umbrellas etc at the pavilion. In addition Ceylon tea and premium quality biscuits manufactured in Sri Lanka have been served to VIPs and the visitors under the sponsorship of Sri Lanka Tea Board, Ceylon Biscuits Limited and Cargills Ceylon PLC. The staff of High Commission had B2B meetings with potential buyers and distributors at the stall and the details will be provided to respective exporters for the further engagements.

Speaking at the grand opening Ceremony of 3rd edition of   GTS 2019, Counsellor, Ms. Priyangani Hewarathna on behalf of the High Commission extended her best wishes and felicitations to the organizers and acknowledged the support received for Sri Lanka’s Participation at the exhibition.  Sri Lanka pavilion was declared opened by H.E. Mr. Kumar Mallimaratchi & Mrs. Udeni Mallimaratchi with Mr. Maksim Nesterenko, Senior Counsellor of the Embassy of Republic of Belarus, Ms. Anisha Pemjee of the ‘Diplomatic Society’, and Mr. Herman Breedt, President of Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce & Industries by lighting traditional oil lamp on 29th July.  

Conducting a comprehensive presentation on ‘Trade and Investment Opportunities in Sri Lanka’ at the workshop session of GTS,  Sanjeewa Ranasinghe Bandara, Third Secretary - Commercial invited participants to do business with emerging Sri Lanka and grow in South Asia by taking  advantage of improved investment climate and trading environment for foreign investors. Also he invited the participants to visit Sri Lanka and conveyed the message to South Africa that now Sri Lanka is a safe destination to travel aftermath of the recent Easter Attack.  The three-day event was successfully concluded on 31st July 2019.

 
Ms. Priyangani Hewarathna, Counsellor – Making the opening remarks  

Third Secretary (Commercial), Sanjeewa Ranasinghe Bandara Presentation on Trade & Investment Opportunities in Sri Lanka

Ceylon Tea serving with the premium biscuits manufactured in Sri Lanka