VATIS UPDATE Article

At a session on Sri Lanka’s cinnamon industry held at the WTO’s headquarters on 21 June, the participants discussed about improving the capacity of traders to meet food safety and hygiene standards, which can help to boost exports and improve competitiveness. The session was organized by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) – a WTO-supported programme – and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The STDF is a global partnership established by the WTO and four other international organizations – Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), World Bank and World Health Organization (WHO) – to help exporters of agricultural goods improve their ability to meet international food safety and hygiene standards. In partnership with UNIDO, the STDF is working on a project to strengthen Sri Lanka’s capacity in this area and to increase its competitiveness in the global market.

The joint STDF-UNIDO project is helping cinnamon producers in Sri Lanka overcome trading constraints by formulating national standards and a curriculum for vocational training. The STDF and its partners have also supported the establishment of a Cinnamon Training Academy for cinnamon processers. “The project has really improved the conditions of families involved in the cinnamon industry,” said Mr. Sarada De Silva, Managing Director of the Cinnamon Training Academy.