The Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently hosted a free webinar that explored opportunities in international markets for Sri Lankan exporters and aspiring traders.
Targeting 500 local start-ups, business people, and potential market entrants interested in foreign markets, the webinar, delivered via Zoom was presented in both Sinhala and English for greater reach.
Discussions during the virtual event revolved around eligibility requirements and procedures in international markets, new developments in the international market, Sri Lankan government initiatives in place for this segment, information on export houses and Commercial Bank facilities for Sri Lankan exporters. Participant interaction was encouraged via chatbox and real-time messaging features through which questions were taken up in the course of the forum.
The session was moderated by Mr Lawrian Somanader, Chief Manager – Export of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon. The panel consisted of Mr Suresh Dayanath de Mel – Chairman and Chief Executive of the Export Development Board (EDB), Mr Athulla Edirisinghe – Business Development Consultant, Mr B. A. H. S. Preena – Assistant General Manager – Corporate Banking at Commercial Bank and Mr Asela Wijesiriwardane the Bank’s Deputy General Manager – Treasury.
Similar webinars titled ‘Export Opportunities to Great Britain’ and ‘Digitalisation and the use of Digital Tools in Business’ have already been conducted by the Bank to benefit its SME customers and non-customers.
Sri Lanka’s first fully carbon neutral bank, the first Sri Lankan bank to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World and the only Sri Lankan bank to be so listed for 11 years consecutively, Commercial Bank operates a network of 268 branches and 931 automated machines in Sri Lanka. The Bank’s overseas operations encompass Bangladesh, where the Bank operates 19 outlets; Myanmar, where it has a Microfinance company in Nay Pyi Taw; and the Maldives, where the Bank has a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake.