The Sri Lanka Handicraft Board, popularly known as ‘Laksala’ has partnered with Sala Global to take products of Sri Lankan artisans overseas.
The signing of the partnership was done physically and viag Zoom. State Minister of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Products, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Sri Lanka Ambassador in China Dr. Palitha Kohona, Secretary Janaka Darmakeerthi Chairman, Laksala, Lakmal Wickramaarachchi, Chairman, Sala Group, Chinthaka Wijewickrama and Jason Wong of Alia Sleep Technology (Guangdong) Co. Ltd. China took part.
Sala Global (Pvt) Ltd have teamed up with Lasala to take their products globally through its showrooms and using IT knowledge.
Chinthaka Wijewickrama said that there are many advantages in working with China. Some of them are China’s GDP, and the booming consumer market. China’s consumer market is the fastest growing in the world. China’s retail annual growth rate is expected to grow at a 10% compound annual growth rate until 2025. China is taking a lot of interest in our handicrafts because this is a dying craft there and it is also facing high labour costs, where countries such as Sri Lanka can benefit.
He said, “We have to learn from our South Asian neighbours about handicrafts to find new markets. One of the leading exporters of handicrafts to China is India. It competes with Malaysia and Vietnam in wooden handicraft and Korea in metal handicraft. Bangladesh is a competitor in jute while it takes on Pakistan on stonework and the Philippines on items made of bamboo.”
One of the main attractions for Sala to take this opportunity was the over 50,000 locally made products available with Laksala.
Special emphasis would be on natural medicinal herbs.
There are samples of traditional medicinal oils of 1,000 years old, indigenous medical practices that have cured many human ailments.
Sala also hopes to provide the customers with a virtual shopping experience, provide information on new trends in Handicrafts and generate leads and to achieve faster growth.
Wijewickrama said that in addition to Dubai, China and Japan, there will be Sala Global showrooms opened in the USA by the end of next month.
Laksala also having a range of food items including organic, spices, herbal, ayurvedic, spices, cosmetics, leather, and clothing has made it more viable for Sala to reach out to many countries.
– Sunday Observer Sri Lanka
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