Skills Training

June 27, 2012 (LBO) – The International Finance Corporation, is working with Sri Lanka’s Nations Trust Bank to help up to 30,000 small business owners become more competitive through a series of advisory interventions, sharpening their readiness to access new markets. IFC said its advisory assistance has helped the bank to strengthen its institutional capacity over the last two years to expand product portfolio, service small business clients, and increase access to financial services for them, the Washington-based lender said.

The bank is now using IFC’s SME Toolkit, an online resource that provides training and management tools for small businesses through multi-lingual ˜how-to’ content, to train staff members who in turn will train the bank’s entrepreneur clients.

IFC’s support has helped us broaden our reach and introduce more financial products to cater to the small and medium entrepreneur better, said Keshini Jayawardena, Deputy General Manager, Retail & SME Banking, Nations Trust Bank.

IFC’s broader programme is assisting the bank gain exposure to international best practices in risk management and compliance with Basel requirements.

Adam Sack, IFC Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives, said, Nations Trust