Retail professionals from some of the world’s top department stores are due in Sri Lanka this month for a three-day conference that is expected to generate valuable exposure for the island’s retail sector.

The meeting of the Intercontinental Group of Department Stores (IGDS) presents a big opportunity for innovative home grown brands," said Otara Gunewardene, chief executive of retail chain ODEL, which is hosting the event.

"It will facilitate the establishment of business links that could help these brands venture into overseas markets."

She said in a statement delegates to the conference would be looking out for suppliers of unique products that they can have in their stores.

The 10th Commercial Director Conference of the IGDS, the world’s largest association of department stores, takes place during February 27 - 29, 2012, attended by representatives of member department stores.

Among the association’s members are some of the top department stores in the world including Selfridges, Saks 5th Avenue, Printemps, Parkson, Beco, FEDS, Shopper’s Stop, M&S, Woolworths, Central, Lotte, Matahari, Ruston, and Tangs.

Last year’s IGDS Commercial Director Conference Asia was hosted by Central Retail Corporation in Bangkok, Thailand.

The organisation has 33 members from 31 countries, with total sales of over 60 billion US dollars.

Membership is reserved to leading department stores worldwide and limited, normally, to one member per country or region, the statement said.

"The admission of a new member is subject to the acceptance of a majority of existing members."