HSBC debuts as official bank for 8th EDEX Expo 2011

HSBC, in Sri Lanka, will be the Official Bank for the 8th EDEX 2011.

HSBC is globally recognised and professionally managed as a financial institution and is represented in 87 countries world-wide, with a customer base of around 100 million, employing a global task-force of 290,000 employees.

From left: Customer Knowledge & Marketing Planning Manager HSBC Nimesh Fernando, Head Of Cards, Consumer Assets and Insurance HSBC Nadeesha Senaratne, Head of Marketing, Group Communications and Corporate Sustainability HSBC Nilantha Bastian, Head of Personal Financial Services HSBC Sarit Wijeyekoon, Chairman EDEX Kamal Abeysinghe, Secretary Royal College Union Manju Ariyaratne, Director Legal EDEX Asendra Siriwardana and Director Colombo Event EDEX, Najmi Yoosuf

HSBC provides a comprehensive range of financial services to its customers through four customer groups and global businesses: Personal financial services; commercial banking; global banking and markets and private banking, operating on the group’s fundamental principles of financial strength, liquidity and conservative gearing.

 HSBC also places a key focus on education locally and globally, helping youth become more responsive citizens and achieve their aspirations.

“HSBC believes in fostering professionals for the future regardless of their chosen field. We think education is a vital tool for the development of any individual, enabling a person to access the many opportunities available in today’s society.

Education is in a way similar to saving for the future, as the importance you place on it now, the more secure your future becomes,” says Sarit Wijeyekoon, Head of Personal Financial Services.

“The reason HSBC is a Platinum sponsor of EDEX is that it is the largest education exhibition in the country bringing together students and international universities and institutes under one roof to provide aspiring students with a wide choice of educational programmes,” opines Wijeyekoon.

“We all know any higher education requires a financial commitment and we have partnered with EDEX to provide students with the much needed financial assistance to plan for their higher education. We will be offering ‘lifestyle education loans’ at affordable interest rates, with a benefit package to support students in completing their education. Students travelling to complete their higher education can open overseas accounts closer to their universities, before travelling, through HSBC’s international banking platform and international branch network”, he offered.

HSBC is also engaged in a host of youth-centric, cultural and green projects.

“Projects initiated to support youth include IT scholarships in the north, east and south, entrepreneurship education to 1000 ‘At Risk’ children, undergraduate scholarships to 100 university students, English language training for over 500 teachers in rural areas of the country,” Wijeyekoon elaborated.

In acknowledging the sponsorship EDEX Chairman, Kamal Abeysinghe said: “Investment in education is the best gift parents could accord a child. Assistance by way of term loans will immensely help most parents with fixed incomes to pay upfront funds payable as tuition fees, living expenses, etc., which can be repaid in instalments. We are indeed very happy to welcome HSBC a global leader in banking, committed to provide such credit facilities, as the ‘Official Bank.’”

EDEX is the pioneering higher education and careers exhibition in Sri Lanka organised by Royal College Union, attracting the largest and most diverse number of local and overseas participants held annually in Colombo and Kandy.

The 8th EDEX Expo will be held on 22, 23 and 24 January at BMICH Colombo and on January 26 and 27 at the Kandy City Centre respectively under its theme for 2011, ‘Be Wise, EDEX-Wise’.

Further details of the Expo can be obtained from the EDEX Secretariat, RCU Skills Centre, Royal College Union, Rajakeeya Mawatha, Colombo 7. Tel 3091086 and 5521497. Email [email protected]. website www.edex.lk.