The U.S.-funded Sri Lanka@100 initiative, a private sector-led program to help mid-sized firms grow their businesses, will host a webinar titled ‘Enhancing Business Reach: Access to Finance, Markets and Technology’ on 2 February at 11:00 am Sri Lanka Time (GMT + 05:30). The webinar, the first in a series planned for 2021, will provide businesses with actionable ideas and practical suggestions while bringing together business partners and experts who have a “can-do” attitude to speak on a wide range of subjects. The United States is funding the Sri Lanka@100 initiative through the U.S. Government’s development arm, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Curated by leading global strategy consulting firm Stax―the implementing partner for SL@100―the webinar will consist of a fireside chat followed by three simultaneous breakout sessions on topics of vital importance to small- & medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The fireside chat will be with Dr. Ratna Sahay, the International Monetary Fund’s Deputy Director of Monetary and Capital Markets. Currently based in Washington, D.C., Dr. Sahay has led program missions to several emerging markets and low-income countries and has published widely on the topics of economic growth, financial crises, debt sustainability, and financial inclusion.
Highlighting the importance of events such as these, USAID Mission Director Mr. Reed Aeschliman stated, “SMEs play a vital role in the economy, and their importance in the post-COVID recovery process can’t be overstated. The United States is helping Sri Lankan firms effectively navigate the current challenges and increase profits and employment with initiatives like Sri Lanka@100.”
The fireside chat will be followed by three breakout sessions featuring a variety of industry experts, addressing specific themes and providing practical tips. The Access to Finance – Avenues to Raise Capital breakout session will feature Sidath Kalyanaratne, CFA, a Director at Assetline Capital, Deputy General Manager of New Initiatives and Head of Risk and Research at David Pieris Holdings (Pvt.) Limited. Also in this panel, representatives from the Palladium Group―Orzu Matyakubova, Team Lead and Jaikanth Sivasamy, Director of Operations―will discuss COVID-specific financing options.
In the Access to Markets – Opportunities in Neighboring Markets session, leading Economist & International Consultant Anushka Wijesinha will discuss trade trends and opportunities in the South Asian region, with particular focus on India―based on his recent paper, ‘Opportunity next door: An Analysis of India market entry strategies of Sri Lankan firms.’
The third breakout session, entitled Access to Technology – Increasing Use of ICT by SMEs will feature Helani Galpaya, CEO of think tank LIRNEasia, who will discuss the findings from a recent island-wide survey on ICT usage by SMEs.
Sri Lanka@100’s Chief of Party, and Managing Director of Stax, Dr. Kumudu Gunasekera commented, “This series of thought-provoking and actionable sessions is part of our overall endeavor to help SMEs to accelerate their growth trajectory. While there have been many hurdles and challenges due to COVID-19, the playing field has been leveled to a certain degree. We remain optimistic about the ability of Sri Lanka’s SMEs to bounce back steadily, and hope that through these discussions on enhancing access to finance, markets and technology, we can outline some practical ways for SMEs to reevaluate the opportunities available to them.”
The Enhanced Business Reach webinar is conducted in partnership with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. Registrations for this event will be free-of-charge and will commence on January 23, 2021. Further details can be obtained on the SL@100 website (www.srilanka100.lk) or on social media (Facebook: srilanka.at.100; Instagram: srilanka_100; LinkedIn: srilanka100).