Derana becomes electronic media partner for 'Hands Lanka'

15 Sep '08

2 min read

The first ever “Hands Lanka Exhibition 2008” international handicrafts exhibition will be held from 9th to 12th October 2008 at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Conventional Centre (SLECC) Colombo.

Derana TV signed a contract with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) to became the electronic media partner for the Hands Lanka Exhibition.

The organizing of this first ever international handicraft exhibition is a joint initiative of the FCCISL, Handwerkskammer Koblenz of Germany and National Chamber of Handicrafts in Sri Lanka together with the Ministry of Rural Industries.

Hands Lanka would be a unique event in itself where the finest handicrafts crafted by Sri Lankan handicraftsmen who mostly come from small and medium scale manufacturers, will be exhibited.

The exposure will become an open forum to meet expert craftsmanship from all over Sri Lanka with national and international high end admiring clientele, also opening new market for SME scale entrepreneurs.

Samantha Abeywickrama, Secretary General/CEO, FCCISL speaking after the signing of the contract with Derana, said that Sri Lankan craftsmen spread all over the country are talented and have immense potential which could be fully tapped if they are provided with new technology to create new products and services.

He said that they are particularly interested in obtaining the type of technology used in India, China, Pakistan, Vietnam and Thailand and pass on these to these talented craftsmen, to open up new opportunities for SMEs. Once such expertise is provided these craftsmen could redesign existing products, product diversification, quality improvement, and cost cutting.

“Hands Lanka” exhibition will provide an opportunity for local and foreign handicraft products manufacturers, Accessory suppliers, related machinery manufacturers, Research and Development Institutions and SME business development service providers to: exhibit products created by them; sell products/machinery/ accept firm orders for supply; select and appoint local agents/ distributors; negotiate and enter into joint ventures; share new technology for improvement of quality and free entrance to workshops on advance sustainable production methodologies, effective and sophisticated production strategies and quality maintenance.

Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Sri Lanka