📈 BOI Pitches US$ 65.1 Mn Spice & Agri-Food Opportunities in Rome
The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) showcased high-value investment proposals at the FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum 2026 in Rome (13–16 October), pitching a transition from raw spice exports to advanced botanical science and high-margin global markets. • Investment & Beneficiaries Overall - Total Investment Portfolio: US$ 65.1 Mn across 4 key value chains. - Impact: Expected to benefit over 21,100 direct and 84,000 indirect individuals. - Strategy: Shift from low-margin bulk exports to a botanical extracts market projected to grow from US$ 30 Bn (2024) to US$ 64.6 Bn by 2034. • Key Sector & Value Chain Breakdown - Tea & Agri-Commodity Transformation: Moving beyond raw bulk trade to capture higher domestic value addition. - Ceylon Cinnamon: Primary target with highest return potential; builds a high-value nutraceutical industry atop current ~US$ 250 Mn annual export base. Focuses on DNA barcoding and low-coumarin extracts. - Ceylon Black Pepper: High-purity oleoresins and piperine targeting global health and supplement formulators. - Sea Cucumber: Delivers the highest income increase (est. US$ 4,800/person) via high-value marine collagen and skincare bioactives. - Ceylon Coffee: Reviving speciality-grade coffee, green extracts, and coffee-cherry ingredients. • Investor Incentives & Technology Pitch - BOI invites tech, biotech, and cosmetics firms to deploy DNA authentication, chemical📈 BOI Pitches $65.1M Agri-Food Tech Portfolio in Rome Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BOI) showcased a $ 65.1 Bn investment pitch at the FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum 2026 in Rome, aiming to transform raw commodity exports into high-value botanical and science-backed products. • Investment Overview: BOI presents a $ 65.1 Mn portfolio targeting four main value chains (Ceylon cinnamon, black pepper, coffee, and sea cucumber), expected to reach 21,100 direct and over 84,000 indirect beneficiaries. • Strategic Shift: Transitioning from low-margin bulk spice exports to the global botanical extracts market—projected to grow from US$ 30 Bn in 2024 to US$ 64.6 Bn by 2034—and the US$ 6.8 Tn wellness economy. • Sector Opportunities: • Tea & Spices / Cinnamon: Build a premium nutraceutical industry around Ceylon cinnamon (currently a ~US$ 250 Mn annual export), utilizing low-coumarin extracts and DNA authentication. • Black Pepper: High-purity oleoresins and piperine for pharmaceutical and supplement formulators. • Sea Cucumber: Marine collagen and peptides for skincare, offering the highest direct income gain at ~US$ 4,800/person. • Coffee: Specialty-grade coffee and green coffee extract production. • Investor Incentives: Up to 100% foreign ownership, 26 investment protection agreements, reduced 15% corporate tax on service exports, and preferential access via FTAs (India, Pakistan, Singapore, EU, UK).