NDB committed to developing skills of SME's

National Development Bank ( NDB) has been working with the Small and Medium Enterprises ( SME) sector for over 30 years, acting also as an apex agency to channel lines of credit from international sources, financing over 60,000 projects directly and indirectly.

The SME sector is critical for job creation, entrepreneurship and income generation. Post war, SME'S has become a key area of focus.

NDB has gone beyond the traditional lending and financing the SME'S by taking steps to develop this sector by educating, and encouraging local businesses to develop their skills, knowledge and their competencies to take on the emerging SME opportunities.

As such NDB Bank conducted a number of comprehensive workshops were conducted for potential SME'S and existing clients through partnering the Regional Chamber. The lecturers at the workshops have pre- meditated on the criteria to educate those following the workshops in various fields including Human Resources, Marketing, Finance, Book Keeping, Leadership Training, Motivation Entrepreneurship.

A process has been introduced where application forms are handed over to participants to voice their preference on training areas. The experts then identify the gaps and decide which areas need focus and conduct sessions accordingly. A needs analysis is carried out prior to conducting the workshop to assess areas that need sufficient education. The curriculum includes a leadership and training session comprising of attributes and traits that leaders possess and how to carry out effective leadership in business.

In addition the Resource Personnel will handle

and queries of the participants' one a one- on- one basis following the sessions giving more flexibility and opportunities for them.

Six workshops on SME management and development have been conducted so far in areas such as Matara, Horana, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Kegalle and Matugama. The areas of focus include awareness, product knowledge, services, advice in assisting them in their working capital requirements and facilitating working capital requirements.

NDB hopes to make arrangements to conduct fifteen comprehensive training sessions for this year aimed at covering most parts of the country.