2016 Sri Lanka Exhibition Post Show Report

EXHIBITION REPORT

Venue Sri Lanka Exhibition & Convention Centre, 12, D. R. Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo - 10 22 - 24 November, 2016

Organised by China Council for Promotion of International Trade, Guangdong Committee CMEC International Exhibition Co. Ltd. Worldex Fiera Milano Exhibitions (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.

Co-organiser Guangzhou Municipal Commission of Commerce

Supported by Trade Development Bureau, Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China

Industry Partner The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL)

Managed by Worldex India Exhibition and Promotion Pvt. Ltd 309, Parvati Premises, Sun Mill Complex, Lower Parel (West), Mumbai-400 013, India Telephone: +(91) (22) 4037 6700-30, 2494 4672 / 73 Fax: +(91) (22) 2496 2297 Email: [email protected] • Website: www.worldexindia.com

2 ABOUT THE SHOW

The 2nd China Products (Colombo, Sri Lanka) Exhibition comes on the back of an economy that is growing at a slower pace but is now being slowly pushed forward by the increasing consumer demand that the population is exerting due to larger disposable incomes. The pressure in turn is producing a new generation of entrepreneurs who are eager to do business with China. This can be clearly seen in the tremendous growth in bilateral trade between Sri Lank and China. Bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and China has crossed the US$ 4 billion threshold for the first time in 2015-16 which is a six fold trade growth within a decade – and this trend would grow further as both countries move towards the proposed FTA. The year-on-year (YoY) total trade between both countries jumped by 12 per cent in 2015 from 2014’s US$ 3.58 billion. Out of the US$ 4 billion bilateral trade last year, 93 per cent were imports from China to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka and China are in a win-win situation with great opportunities to explore given the fact that their respective economies are still growing due to the existence of domestic markets. The China show in Colombo is well known amongst the new entrepreneurs who visit from across the country to meet Chinese businesses to source as well as to get ideas for starting new ventures. The show is well received and will see increasing number of buyers in the future.

VISITOR ANALYSIS

The 2nd China Products (Colombo, Sri Lanka) Exhibition was held at the Sri Lanka Exhibition & Convention Centre, 12, D. R. Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo, from 22 - 24 November, 2016. The exhibition this year was successful in terms of the number of visitors and buyers who attended the Exhibition. The large number of visitors proved without a doubt that the 2016 exhibition was one that strongly attracted entrepreneurs from across Sri Lanka. Buyers also came from major cities of Sri Lanka to source as well as ideate to open new product lines in Sri Lanka sourced from China. There was also a section of visitors who are already aware of the show and just wanted to check if there was any new stream of business that could be opened. The exhibition dates of 22nd, 23rd and 24th November, 2016, attracted a total number of 2,957 business visitors, which clearly shows the interest and brand recall of the show. The visitor promotion strategy was also clearly successful when seen with respect to the number of business visitors. Press and electronic coverage also gave a fillip to the promotion of the fair. The visitor promotion strategy was successful with over 2,957 business visitors attending the exhibition.

3 ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATION CAMPAIGNS

The 2016 exhibition was advertised in Sri Lanka’s leading business and general newspapers combined with ads in the relevant trade magazines. The plan of executing the strategy of covering a vast number of target audience comprising relevant businesspeople such as importers, exporters, dealers, retailers, and industry relevant businesses across Sri Lanka was successful. After a thorough analysis of the Sri Lankan print media, we finalised on giving advertorial cum advertisement in the most recognized business magazine of the island.

MAGAZINE NAME CATEGORY LMD (Lanka Monthly Digest) Business Magazine The advertorial and advertisement was published in the following editions September 2016 October 2016 November 2016

DIRECT MAIL & E-MAIL CAMPAIGN

The 2016 Exhibition’s direct and e-mail strategy also included a highly-targeted Business Matching mailing. Aimed at industries matching the exhibitors’ sectors, the focused campaign paid rich dividends. The campaign saw 20,000 targeted Direct Mailers sent across Sri Lanka. Mass mailing was a huge 22,00,000 mails sent to all relevant industry sectors. The specific mailing for business matching saw targeted mass mailing cross 1,50,000 mails during this duration. The campaign was responsible from bringing in buyers both qualitatively and quantitatively.

4 Photo Gallery

5 Photo Gallery

6 NEWSPAPER COVERAGE

Newspapers were selected on the basis of largest national and local circulation in English and Sinhalese languages. Large advertisements were placed multiple times for maximum impact and visibility across Sri Lanka, especially key centres of industry and commerce.

Sr. Newspaper Date 1 Daily Mirror 8th November, 2016 English 15th November, 2016 17th November, 2016 21st November, 2016 22nd November, 2016 23rd November, 2016

2 Daily News 8th November, 2016 English 16th November, 2016 22nd November, 2016 23rd November, 2016

3 Daily FT 15th November, 2016 English 17th November, 2016 22nd November, 2016

4 Virakesari 15th November, 2016 Tamil 16th November, 2016 21st November, 2016 22nd November, 2016

5 Lankadeepa 15th November, 2016 Sinhalese 16th November, 2016 21st November, 2016 22nd November, 2016

7 POST SHOW REPORT CHINA PRODUCTS EXHIBITION 22-23-24 NOV. 2016