Sri Lanka Expo 2027 targets more than 1,500 international buyers and investors

Sri Lanka Expo 2027 is targeting more than 1,500 international buyers, investors and other participants as the country seeks to strengthen exports and position itself as a regional trade and investment hub.

The four-day exhibition, organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), will be held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo from January 14 to 17, 2027, marking the return of the event after a 15-year gap.

EDB Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mangala Wijesinghe said the Expo would go beyond a conventional exhibition and serve as a strategic platform linking Sri Lankan exporters with international buyers, investors and policymakers.

He said the event would bring together the country’s agriculture, industry, tourism and services sectors under one roof.

“We are creating a serious networking platform where buyers, investors, policymakers and Sri Lankan exporters can meet, match and move forward with confidence,” he said.

More than 750 exhibitors representing over 24 sectors are expected to take part.

The exhibition will also feature an international pavilion with around 460 stalls showcasing high-tech machinery, equipment and other solutions aimed at strengthening export-oriented industries.

Sectors represented will include apparel and textiles, gems and jewellery, boat and shipbuilding, maritime services, engineering, automotive components, rubber, plastics, chemicals, electrical and electronics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, tea, spices, coconut-based products, seafood, processed food and beverages, agriculture, Ayurvedic products, handicrafts and tourism services.

A series of parallel events will also be held, including an investor forum, business-to-business meetings, industry conferences, a fashion show and cultural performances.

Wijesinghe said preparations were under way for exhibition infrastructure, buyer-supplier matchmaking systems and registration facilities, while travel and logistical arrangements for international delegates were being coordinated with airline and hospitality partners.

The first three days of the Expo will be reserved for international buyers, investors and invited participants, while the final day is expected to be open to the public.