Growing Trade Connections between Abans and Australia

On the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of Sri Lanka-AustraliaDiplomatic Relations, Abans takes great pleasure in talking about the close bonds that the company shares with Australia. Just as the diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka - Australia have gone from strength to strength over the past 75years, Abans trade connections with Australia span most of the company’s 50-year period of existence.

Since 1978, Abans – a leader in household electrical appliances –has been representing well known Australian brands such as Fisher and Paykel, and Frigidaire, while purchasing a wide array of appliances made in Australia from world renowned brands such as Mistral and Breville.

The company also represented and facilitated the entry of Edwards Sola’ water solutions into the Sri Lankan market. Our subsidiary company, S. A. Electricals imported Birko products from Australia.

In 1998, when Abans obtained the franchise for McDonald’s Restaurants, we chose to be supported out of Australia. The initial team of ten management trainees were trained for over one year prior to the opening. We employed three Australian citizens for the introduction of the brand in SriLanka. Over the years, McDonald’s Sri Lanka has continued to purchase most of its protein supplies and french fries from suppliers such as Simplot, McCain, Martin Brower, Australian Food Corporation, Fonterra and Inghams Enterprises. 

In 1979, Abans Limited formed a joint venture for professional advertising and marketing services with Gardner Dixon Hall of Melbourne, and catered to the advertising and marketing needs of many Australian companies in Sri Lanka at the time, namely Standard Chartered Bank, ANZ Grindlays Bank,McDonald’s and Fonterra brands. 

More recently, through Abans associate Logirite, we have been importing selected meat products from Fletcher International Exports of Dubbo, New South Wales. The company imports non-consolidated cargo from various Australian food manufacturers for distribution for online retailers in the new normal, under the brand Cold Storage Combine, and is seeking partnerships with Australian fruit suppliers. 

In 2016, Abans formed a joint venture with Next Story Group Australia to establish the landmark fifty storey mixed-use development, Colombo City Centre.

Our Directors and Senior Management have continuously supported the Australia-New Zealand Business Council and have continuously sponsored the annual SLANZ ball.  

Future business development for Abans will see the company look for joint venture collaborations with reputed Australian organisations in the fields of agriculture, solar power and green environmental solutions.

On a more personal note, the Chairperson of Abans Group, Mrs Aban Pestonjee, fondly recalled all the close connections she shares with Australia. Before she embarked on her business, most of her friends migrated from Ceylon to Australia back in the 1960s. The descriptions that they shared with her of the beauty and warmth of Australia and its people, inspired Mrs Pestonjee to visit the country many times. Apart from the business relations, most of her children and grand children also share close ties to Australia, as they received higher education there and contributed to Australian projects during their time in the country. Mrs Pestonjee always considers Australia to be her second home and hopes to maintain and strengthen the bonds with Australia for many more years to come.