The 23rd edition of ProFood ProPack & AgBiz 2026, Sri Lanka’s premier exhibition for the food processing, packaging and agriculture industries, concluded successfully at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), drawing nearly 30,000 visitors and connecting industry stakeholders from Sri Lanka and overseas.
Held over three days from August 21, 2026, the exhibition provided a comprehensive platform for businesses, entrepreneurs, industry professionals and consumers to explore new products and technologies, exchange knowledge, establish partnerships and identify opportunities across the food processing, packaging and agriculture value chain.
Organised by the Sri Lanka Food Processors Association (SLFPA) in collaboration with professional exhibition organiser Lanka Exhibition & Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd (LECS), this year’s event occupied six exhibition halls and featured nearly 450 stalls, including close to 30 international exhibitors.
The opening ceremony was attended by Hon. Sunil Handuneththi, Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, and Mrs. Thilaka Jayasudara, Secretary to the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development. Their participation highlighted the Government’s recognition of the exhibition and its contribution to strengthening Sri Lanka’s industrial and entrepreneurial ecosystem. The event was endorsed by the Ministry of Industries.
Driving Innovation and Industry-Academia Collaboration
A major attraction at this year’s exhibition was the Innovation Pavilion, where 14 government and private-sector universities presented research, innovations and technology-driven solutions relevant to the food and related industries.
The Institute of Food Science and Technology Sri Lanka (IFSTSL) also conducted an industry seminar and organised a range of activities designed to engage university undergraduates in food science and technology.
These initiatives helped strengthen collaboration between academia and industry while creating opportunities to inspire and prepare the next generation of professionals for careers within Sri Lanka’s evolving food industry.
BOI and Austrade Deepen Collaboration to Boost Foreign Investment Promotion
The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) has strengthened its capacity to attract quality Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through a knowledge-sharing workshop conducted by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), focusing on international strategies and best practices for investment promotion.
The workshop was conducted as part of an activity identified under the bilateral Trade and Investment Facilitation Agreement (TIFA) Action Plan between Sri Lanka and Australia. It follows an earlier knowledge-sharing session focused on Austrade’s trade promotion and facilitation programme.
Delivering the keynote address, Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Mathew Duckworth highlighted Sri Lanka’s competitive advantages, particularly its skilled workforce and strategic geographical location.
“In my role here, I study the Sri Lankan economy a lot, and I see a lot of competitive advantage here,” he said, stressing the importance of creating appropriate domestic policies and conditions to attract greater investment and maximise the country’s economic potential.
The workshop was conducted by Andrew Carter, Trade and Investment Commissioner of Austrade, while BOI Chairman Duminda Hulangamuwa delivered the welcome remarks.
The programme provided BOI officials with insights into Austrade’s approach to FDI attraction, covering areas such as identifying priority sectors, strengthening international branding, targeting potential investors, developing sector-specific value propositions and enhancing investor services.
Participants also examined Austrade’s management of the full investor lifecycle, including investment promotion, attraction, facilitation, aftercare and investor retention.
The sessions further covered the use of digital tools and pipeline management, along with an investment case study presented by Austrade’s India Investment Team.
In addition, participants explored Australian Government policy frameworks and mechanisms for effective coordination among government agencies, with representatives from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also taking part in the discussions.
ProFood ProPack & AgBiz 2026 Wraps Up on a Successful Note
