“Now we have more than two per cent share of global ornamental fish market which is around $ 340 Million. We are also now recognised as one of the best ornamental fish suppliers to the international market,” revealed Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka on 12 June in Colombo.
Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the Press Briefing held at the EDB to announce Sri Lanka’s strong achievements at the Aquarama 2013 event in Singapore.
More than 300 competitors from 10 countries, submitting 1350 entries, were taking part in the highly competitive Aquarama 2013 international ornamental fishery event held in Singapore 28 May to 2 June.
Sri Lanka has been placed as the second largest awards winner in Asia’s biggest, international ornamental fish and accessories exhibition Aquarama 2013. In the 2013 Singapore event Sri Lanka has won 30 awards and is in second place, in comparison to Singapore which is the number one ornamental fish exporting country, in the world.
Minister Bathiudeen added that this is not only an honor for Sri Lanka but also an important development for our ornamental fish industry. EDB has sponsored 17 participants at this event and submitted 232 entries in various fish categories.
In the commendable 2012 budget proposals by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, provisions have been made to upgrade facilities of exporters to increase the quality of fish exported from Sri Lanka. This is another stepping stone, towards Sri Lanka's $ 20 Bn export target, by 2020. The value of ornamental fish exports in 2012 stood at $ 7.52 Mn. The major export markets, for Sri Lankan aquarium fish, are Japan, USA, UK, Germany and France.
Minister Bathiudeen further said that Sri Lanka began ornamental fish exports in 1950’s and has more than two percent share of global ornamental fish market which is annually around $ 340 Mn. He expressed his pleasure for Sri Lanka being recognized as one of the best ornamental fish suppliers to the international market.
Rohan Fernando, Co-President of Live Tropical Fish Exporters Association, addressing the event, said that the backbone of fish exports are the fish breeders of this country. But exporters have been starving without new species to breed and export. Fortunately, the Aquarama event, promoted by EDB here, has come to the rescue, he further added.
In the budget proposal 2012, provisions have been made to set up/upgrade quarantine and withholding facilities of exporters to increase the quality of fish exporting from Sri Lanka. The EDB IS the implementing agency for the programme.
