Standard Chartered Bank takes financial literacy to Jaffna

Wednesday, 21 March 2012 00:38 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Standard Chartered Bank, in furtherance of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed with Youth Business Sri Lanka (YBSL), a project of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), conducted a session on financial literacy around the program theme “Generating Business Ideas”, for women entrepreneurs in Jaffna on Friday 16th March 2012.

The session is the first of a series planned, and is a reiteration of the Bank’s commitment to building capacity on basic business skills, financial capabilities and providing access to business networks, in the North and East of the island. Members of the Standard Chartered Bank team and the Chamber of Commerce Yarlpanam

The team from Standard Chartered Bank, which included CEO Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar, who visited Jaffna, were hosted by Kanagasabai Pooranachandran and S. Yogarajah Singham, Chairman and CEO respectively, of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Yarlpanam. Anirvan Ghosh-Dastidar addressing the gathering said “Micro-finance is a key area for development of entrepreneurship, essential for Sri Lanka’s overall economic development. We are enthusiastic that these businesswomen will lead the way in their generation of young entrepreneurs, engendering self reliant, successful enterprise.”

The credit scheme, managed by YBSL will help entrepreneurs disadvantaged through lack of access to capital, to enhance their businesses while start-ups will gain from the several workshops and seminars jointly organized with the Jaffna Chamber of Commerce.

The session was conducted by Standard Chartered’s Siva Marimuthu, Country Head of Audit and was attended by 19 businesswomen. Commenting on the program, Siva said: “As a bank, we were privileged to be afforded the opportunity to speak to young entrepreneurs and share financial planning insights and guidance, which will assist them to maximise the use of funds obtained via credit schemes.”

Standard Chartered Bank will continue to share financial knowledge and expertise as well as business counselling, with the Jaffna entrepreneurs with start-ups and existing businesses, to improve livelihoods and provide platforms from which small scale enterprise can enter the mainstream of developmental activities, in keeping with its brand promise, Here for good.

Standard Chartered is a leading international banking group. It has operated for over 150 years in some of the world’s most dynamic markets and earns more than 90 per cent of its profits in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This geographic focus and commitment to developing deep relationships with clients and customers has driven the Bank’s growth in recent years. Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges as well as the Bombay and National Stock Exchanges in India.

With 1,700 offices in 70 markets, the Group offers exciting and challenging international career opportunities for nearly 87,000 staff. It is committed to building a sustainable business over the long term and is trusted worldwide for upholding high standards of corporate governance, social responsibility, environmental protection and employee diversity. Standard Chartered’s heritage and values are expressed in its brand promise, ‘Here for good’.