The first dedicated Ceylon Tea Pavilion was inaugurated by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad, together with the Consul General of Sri Lanka in Jeddah, Justice Mohamed Laffar, and representatives of Ceylon Tea exporting companies, at the Saudi Food Show 2026, held at the Jeddah Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from 27 to 29 September 2026.
The pavilion brought together six Sri Lankan tea companies to showcase the quality, diversity and distinctive character of Ceylon Tea in the Saudi market.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tea Board and the Department of Commerce, organized the Ceylon Tea Pavilion with the aim of strengthening the presence of Ceylon Tea and other Sri Lankan food and beverage products in the Saudi market, while creating opportunities for Sri Lankan exporters.
Addressing the gathering, the Ambassador highlighted the continued growth of bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia. Sri Lankan exports to Saudi Arabia increased by 15 percent compared with 2024, while tea remained a major contributor, with packet and bulk tea exports amounting to approximately USD 67 million during the year.
The Ambassador emphasized the potential to further strengthen the presence of Ceylon Tea in the Saudi market while promoting a wider range of Sri Lankan food and beverage products. He encouraged Sri Lankan exporters to make use of the Saudi Food Show and other exhibitions in the Kingdom to engage with Saudi buyers, importers, distributors and retailers, understand market requirements, and establish long-term commercial partnerships.
The Ceylon Tea Pavilion featured Imperial Tea Exports (Pvt) Ltd, Meezan & Company, Ceylon Tea Marketing Group, Ceylon Tea Land (Pvt) Ltd, Heladiv Tea, and Martin Bauer Hayleys (Pvt) Ltd. In addition, Empire Teas (Pvt) Ltd, Eswaran Brothers Exports (Pvt) Ltd, Anverally & Sons (Pvt) Ltd, Uniworld Teas (Pvt) Ltd, and A.F. Jones Exporters Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd participated independently at the Saudi Food Show. Saudi Food Show 2026
The establishment of the first dedicated Ceylon Tea Pavilion at the Saudi Food Show marked an important step in strengthening Sri Lanka’s commercial engagement with Saudi Arabia and expanding opportunities for Sri Lankan tea exporters in the Saudi market.
The Saudi Food Show 2026 and Saudi Food Manufacturing 2026 brought together more than 1,000 exhibitors from over 95 countries, providing opportunities across Saudi Arabia’s food and beverage and food manufacturing sectors. Saudi Food Show 2026
The First Secretary (Commerce) of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh, Tashma Vithanawasam, coordinated the arrangements for the participation of the Sri Lankan tea companies.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Riyadh
5 October 2026
