Jaffna International Trade Fair 2013

Jaffna International Trade Fair 2013

The Northern most tip of the country, its capital will be set alight for the fourth consecutive year  at the end of the  “Harvest Festival” – Thai Pongal – with the commencement of the Jaffna International Trade Fair (JIFT) 2013 on the 18th of January.

The Exhibition which has risen to a ‘must attend to’ event by the citizens, businessman, traders and entrepreneurs of the North will be held at the iconic Durayappah stadium at the heart of the peninsula.  The trade fair which comprises both local and international stalls holders catering to a diverse variety of needs and services drew a gathering of over 50,000 visitors in its last edition and has been considered the single most focal point for a wide spectrum of investors and citizens.

The Fair which is partnered with the Ministry of Traditional Industries & Small Enterprise Development, Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Chamber of Commerce & Industries of Yarlpanam (CCIY), Consulate General of India in Jaffna, Jaffna Municipal Council and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau has grown hand in hand with the people of Jaffna during its four years. The dawn of peace in the North has brought in new hope to the region and today Jaffna which was once considered virgin territory for investment has witnessed a gradual development in lifestyle and infrastructure development giving the people of Jaffna a chance to explore and focus on the regions potential and growth.

Director of Lanka Exhibition Services, the Presidential award winning event organizer, Imran Hassan said that the market in the Northern region has matured since the inception of the event four years ago.

“The entire dynamics of the market is gradually changing. When we went in first Jaffna was unknown territory and we were the first to enter and explore this region. But today everything is changing with the massive amount of infrastructure and livelihood development in the area. There is now a chance of sustained growth and an expansion of investment and the trade fair will provide the ideal opportunity for markets to meet market, and consumers to meet service and solution providers” he said.

He also said that the exhibition would provide and ideal opportunity for companies to meet their target consumer base.

“Companies to reach their targeted audience and meet their business expectations while providing a base for the consumers an easy access to latest products,  service and solution providers in the market” he said.

Mr. K. Poornachandan the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Yaalpanam said that the event is considered as the best gathering point for business leaders, consumers, industry holders and entrepreneurs and therefore this year’s exhibition will draw in unprecedented crowds.

DIMO one of Sri Lanka’s most recognized brands who will partner the event said that the company is overwhelmed to be a part of the development of the people of Jaffna in its efforts to develop.

“We have been partnering the event for the past 3 years and we have witnessed the gradual but sustained growth that the event and the people of Jaffna have experienced during this time. It is indeed an event which has continued to contribute to the growth of the Northern region and has been seen as an event that has brought communities, investors, businessman and citizens together. We take pride in ourselves being a provider of the best engineered brands and through JIFTY we give the people of Jaffna a chance to experience all of this under a single roof” he said  Mr. Yohan Thilakarathne Deputy General Manager DIMO said.

JIFT 2013 will also comprise of an Education Pavilion with some of Colombo’s and Jaffna’s most sought after education service providers partnering the event. ICBT, together with CINEC maritime campus will therefore partner the aspiring students of Jaffna to further their dreams in academics.  The concern and the attention paid to education by students in Jaffna will prvide the ideal opportunity for education service providers to partner the students and guide them into becoming recognized professionals in the fields of their choice.

Therefore, over 20 educational institutes representing over a 1000 local and foreign universities will be a part and parcel of the exhibition. A unique pavilion named “KALVI” specially designed to host the education representatives will be visible to all those who visit the fair.

The trade fair will be sponsored by DIMO (Pvt) Ltd the Gold Sponsor of the event, with Elephant House being the co – sponsor. Sri Lanka Insurance will hold the mantle of being the official insurance provider along with Central Finance and Dart Global Logistics being the Official Leasing & Logistics Partners respectively while Vasantham FM and TV will be the official electronic media sponsor. Uthayan and Sudar Oli, two widely read newspapers in the region are the official print media sponsors.