Saturday Sep 21, 2024
Saturday Sep 21, 2024
Friday, 20 October 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Trade Finance Association of Bankers has once again organised one of the key events in its annual calendar – the Public Seminar, to enable exporters, importers, lawyers, bankers and businessmen to keep abreast of the latest developments in international trade. The theme of this year’s seminar is ‘International Trade at the Tipping Point’. The seminar will be held on Saturday, 21 October at the now popular venue Golden Rose, Boralesgamuwa.
A major growth can be expected in exports as well as imports of raw materials for export due to the Government pursuing a strategy to embark on a new growth model based on the private sector being the locomotive for economic development with exports and investments, including Foreign Direct Investments as key pillars. Towards this goal it is formulating a National Export Strategy and a Foreign Trade Policy and is planning to introduce enabling legislation for ease of doing business. Whilst this will create lots of opportunities for exporters and importers, it will result in their having to face many new challenges of a vibrant environment. The seminar will enable participants to be better equipped to make use of the opportunities and face these challenges.
The keynote address at the seminar will be delivered by Hatton National Bank PLC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Alles. He is also the Chairman of Lanka Financial Services Bureau Ltd., Lanka Ventures PLC, LVL Energy Fund and HNB Grameen Finance Ltd.
Anushka Wijesinha will make a presentation on ‘Emerging Developments in Trade: Implications for Sri Lanka’. Anushka is the Chief Economist and Head of the Economic Intelligence Unit, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Monetary Policy Consultative Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and a National Consultant in formulating the National Export Strategy for Sri Lanka.
The new strategies adopted by the present government are bound to result in many guarantees being issued as well as received by Sri Lankans. Therefore to address issues that arise there from, Ravi Molligoda, Attorney-at-Law, former Assistant General Manger, Peoples Bank will make a presentation on ‘Bank Guarantees – Present Trends and Future Potential’.
Shalini Peiris, Compliance Officer, Deutsche Bank AG, Colombo Branch will deliver a presentation on ‘Anti Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Regulations for International Trade’ and will focus on the important aspects arising from these legislative enactments and regulations which have an impact on Sri Lanka’s international trade business.
‘Documentary Credits and Collections – Case Studies’ will be handled by Parama Dharmawardene, Consultant, Former, Deputy General Manager, Sampath Bank. He is the only Sri Lankan serving in the ‘DOCDEX Panel of Experts’ for dispute resolution appointed by the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London and is the Chief Examiner for the International Trade Finance papers for the Diploma in Banking Examination as well as Diploma in Applied Banking and Finance Examination conducted by the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka.
During the presentations to be made in the morning program time will be allocated for Question and Answer sessions. A panel discussion will be held in the afternoon moderated by Nilam Jumat, former Assistant General Manager – International, Hatton National Bank. The panellists will be Parama Dharmawardene, Janath Illangantilleke, Assistant General Manager – Trade Services, Hatton National Bank and Chatura Rudesh – Head of Trade Services and International Operations, Sampath Bank, which will give an opportunity for the participants to clarify and doubts that they may have on matters relating to international trade.
The Association acknowledges with gratitude the support and encouragement given to it by the commercial banks operating in Sri Lanka. The TFAB has been playing a major role in the development of trade practitioners, including members of the staff in banks handling trade business by conducting evening lecture/discussion programs on important aspects of international trade and also addressing issues affecting the trade business by having regular discussions with the regulatory authorities.
Their special thanks to the sponsors for their generosity and contribution for all the events of the Association this centenary year. Platinum Sponsors – Bank of Ceylon, Commercial Bank and Deutsche Bank, our Gold Sponsors – Peoples Bank and Seylan Bank, Silver Sponsors – AB Securitas Ltd., National Development Bank and Sampath Bank, and Bronze Sponsors – Citibank, DFCC Bank, Hatton National Bank, HSBC, Nations Trust Bank, Pan Asia Bank, Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation, Union Bank and our Print Media Partners – Daily FT, Daily Mirror and Sunday Times.
The Trade Finance Association of Bankers (TFAB) which was formed in 1997 is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year. To mark this historic occasion, TFAB had been having a series of activities spread throughout the year on the theme ‘International Trade at the Tipping Point’.
To mark its 20th anniversary, all the regular events were organised in a grand scale commencing with the Annual General Meeting which was held in March. The Trade Quiz and Social held in July along with the main celebrations of the 20th Anniversary. Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and he launched TFAB’s Anniversary Publication and its new website tfab.org. The Governor presented the members of the Inaugural Council as well as the Past Presidents of the Association with mementos in recognition of the yeoman service rendered by them to the Association.
