NDB Bank Hosts Exporter’s Forum to Strengthen and Empower Sri Lanka’s Export Community

NDB Bank successfully hosted the Exporter’s Forum on the 24th of January at the Ramrich Hotel, Ja-Ela, bringing together key stakeholders and industry leaders to discuss strategies and opportunities for advancing Sri Lanka’s export sector. The event, which was attended by a distinguished gathering of exporters from the Northwestern region, was a testament to NDB’s commitment to fostering growth and innovation within the export community.

The forum was graced by the presence of Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Export Development Board (EDB), who delivered a compelling keynote address. He shed light on the government’s focus and policies on exports, highlighting the vision for the sector, future targets, and the initiatives aimed at positioning Sri Lanka as a competitive global player in trade, while emphasizing the pivotal role of exporters in driving the nation’s economic growth and development.

Indika Ranaweera, Vice President of SME, Middle Markets, and Business Banking at NDB, shared valuable insights into the bank’s ongoing efforts to support and empower exporters. He outlined NDB’s initiatives in previous years, including tailored financial solutions, advisory services, and capacity-building programs designed to help exporters thrive in a challenging global landscape. He also provided an overview of the bank’s plans for the upcoming year, and its focus on enabling SMEs to evolve into successful exporters. His practical advice on navigating the journey from SME to exporter resonated deeply with the audience.

A key highlight of the event was an engaging panel discussion that explored a wide array of topics critical to exporters. The panel which was moderated by Nilendra Vithanage, Chief Manager of Business Banking at NDB, covered trade finance facilities, transactional banking, digital banking, and treasury services, offering actionable insights and solutions for businesses seeking to expand their global footprint. The discussion featured esteemed panellists, including Indika Ranaweera,  Damitha Samaranayake, Vice President of Treasury at NDB, and  Thilanke S. Weerasinghe, Assistant Vice President of Transaction Banking at NDB.

The forum provided an invaluable platform for exporters to connect, exchange ideas, and gain a deeper understanding of the tools and resources available to enhance their competitiveness in international markets. NDB Bank remains steadfast in its mission to support Sri Lankan exporters, not only through financial services but also by fostering knowledge-sharing and creating opportunities for sustainable growth.

NDB Bank is the fourth-largest listed commercial bank in Sri Lanka. NDB was named Sri Lanka’s Best Bank for Corporates at Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2024 and was awarded Domestic Retail Bank of the Year – Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Domestic Project Finance Bank of the Year by Asian Banking and Finance Magazine (Singapore) Awards 2024. NDB is the parent company of the NDB Group, comprising capital market subsidiary companies, together forming a unique banking and capital market services group. The Bank is committed to empowering the nation and its people through meaningful financial and advisory services powered by digital banking solutions.