The ‘Rural Economic Empowerment Programme’, a joint effort between the CCC Solutions of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and CITI Bank Sri Lanka, which is aimed at nurturing prospective rural entrepreneurs, will conduct its inaugural ‘entrepreneurship’ training programme in the Puttalam District today.
This training programme will focus on an introduction to entrepreneurship and generating a concrete business idea and will be held in Udappuwa, a fishing village located in the North Western Coastal Belt of Sri Lanka. 

The training will be conducted as per the foundation modules developed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO)-accredited ‘Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB)’ programme. Subsequently, those who generate a concrete business idea will be trained and assisted to develop a simple business plan that can be submitted to a bank for obtaining financial assistance. NDB Bank and HNB have agreed to partner with CITI and CCC Solutions to provide microfinance for potential entrepreneurs with feasible business ideas and business plans.

The Rural Economic Empowerment Programme, which commenced during the last quarter of the year 2015, has already conducted initial training programmes in the village of Dadayamkanda in Embilipitiya. The objective of the programme is to identify nearly 200 potential and promising entrepreneurs from across the island and help them grow by building their entrepreneurial capacity, financial and business management skills, technical know-how and also how to find potential markets for their products.

CCC Solutions is the main implementing partner of this project, while the CITI Bank, a leading global bank with presence in Sri Lanka, will provide overall direction and financial resources, guidance and professional expertise for training and capacity building of prospective entrepreneurs. Citi Bank has been operating in Sri Lanka since 1979 and its participation signals its commitment towards promoting the national cause of livelihood development at grassroots level through sustainable financial inclusion. Citi Sri Lanka, together with Citi Foundation, has engaged in many corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects since its inception, demonstrating its dedication towards enhancing the economic opportunities for individuals and families of Sri Lanka.