HNB seminar on international trade

Hatton National Bank Plc (HNB) in continuity of their customer service initiatives organised a seminar on “International Trade – Today’ for their trade customers to keep them updated on the developments and procedures in the ever-changing Trade environment.

The Managing Director Rajendra Theagarajah said seminars of this nature are held to educate their partners in the business sector to prevent or minimise risks and update them on the developments in International trade. He also emphasised that Post war the opportunities for Trade business are immense with the infrastructure developments especially in the North and East and the enhanced confidence of foreign investors to do business with Sri Lanka.     

The participants who were mainly Managers involved in Finance and Trade functions said seminars of this nature were absolutely essential as they required to be updated of the constantly changing global trade trends, documentation procedures in order maximise returns, minimise risks and ensure continuity of their businesses.  

The seminar covered a wide cross section of subjects: Raj Mohan Deputy Director of Customs enlightened the participants on the “New  Procedures at the Customs”; Anoma Ranasinghe General Manager (Documentation), Mclarens Shipping touched on the “ Effective and Efficient methods in Shippping”,

Presentations were also made by two foreign speakers from J. P. Morgan Chase Bank N.A. who were specially brought down for this event.  

Jonathan Heusar MD J. P. Morgan Asia Pacific, Trade Advisory Global Trade Services spoke on Trade Flows Globally and Markets, while Himanshu Gupta Vic President Financial Institution Sales Spoke on Managing Treasury Risks.

The panel discussion drew much interest and appreciation with many pressing questions being asked by the participants which were duly responded by the eminent panel consisting of the presenters.

Ruvini Thenabadu, DGM Corporate Banking said the bank had segmented its lending as Consumer, Commercial and Corporate and that this seminar was aimed at their Commercial and Corporate clients.

Christo Dhambarage Senior Manager Trade Services in proposing the vote of thanks said, the bank would ensure that this annual event is continued and coupled with an expert trade team of the bank whose Trade operations are ISO 9001 : 2008  certified will definitely help their customers in maximising their returns on their International Trade business.