Banking
NDB joins hands with IFC to propel SME Development in Kandy
View(s):NDB enhanced its commitment to support the SMEs in Kandy with the opening of a dedicated, customer oriented SME centre at the heart of the city recently.
NDB’s SME Centre is designed around a unique concept which aims to educate, empower and enrich the entrepreneurs of the region. It will be a one stop shop for the diverse needs of today’s entrepreneurs and will provide 360 degree solutions; from financial expertise on SME Banking services to industry expertise for those who intend to start up new business ventures to investment along with capital management advice and a gamut of customized credit facilities available over the counter.
The NDB SME Centre in Kandy being opening by Mr. Raj Aboobucker, Vice President and Head of Retail and SME Banking of NDB. Mr. Asela Dissanayake –Operations Officer of IFC, Mr, Victor Antonypillai - Associate Operations Officer of IFC, Mr. Indika Ranweera – Asst. Vice President and Head of SME Business & Retail Asset Development of NDB, Mr. Ajith Baminiwatte – Regional Manager of NDB and Mr. Firdowzi Muslim – Manager NDB Kandy Branch are also in the picture.
The Centre will be equipped with self-service features which include a computer terminal with internet facility that could be freely accessed by the visitors to obtain detailed information on SME Banking services and new developments in the sector. A key highlight of this web resource is the ‘SME Toolkit’an online training resourcefrom IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, which will be available in the preferred language of the user.
The‘SMEToolkit’ is a technology solution introduced by IFC,to provide information and communication technologies to help SMEs in emerging markets learn sustainable business management practices.
It consists of an easy-to-use Web and CD-ROM interface that allows users to search or browse to locate the content they need, a large set of best-of-breed SMl business content with over 40,000 articles that cover the areas of Accounting & Finance, International Business, Marketing & Sales, Human Resources, Legal & Insurance, Operations, and Technology along with a business training curriculum for business development service providers and SMEs.Over 6,500 micro and small entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka have been trained under the SME Toolkit programme that was launched in Sri Lanka in 2008
Another special feature of this SME Centre is the mini library, rich with literature related to SMEs, Financial services industry magazines etc. Dedicated financial advisors at the NDB SME Centre with a wealth of knowledge on SME services, financial management as well as business and investment management will be able to add value to the visitors by providing them with up to date, expert advisory services.
Commenting on the opening of the SME Centre in Kandy, Mr. Raj Aboobucker, Vice President and Head of SME and Retail Banking of NDB said, “SME development has always been an integral component of NDB’s strategic intent. Having financially supported over 40,000 ventures and created more than 600,000 employment opportunities island-wide, we remain committed to empower the SME sector with the firm belief that an entrepreneurial culture is essential for the sustainable development of a nation. Opening of regional SME centres is a part of an island-wide endeavour of the Bank, which aims to provide a one-stop-shop with customised SME solutions to suit the particular needs of SME owners in different regions. Through a joint effort with IFC, we have been able to offer a unique service to the SME owners of Kandy with the introduction of ‘SME Toolkit’ as a web resource at the centre.
IFC’s ‘SME Toolkit’ has been instrumental in the success stories of many SMEs in over 29 countries and regions as diverse as Africa, andLatin America. We are glad to be able to offer this unique, valuable resource through our SME centre in Kandy to help accelerate the development of the SME’s in the region.Therefore, I would like to invite all entrepreneurs in and around Kandy to pay a visit to our SME Centre and take advantage of these unique benefits in order to enhance and develop their businesses.”
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