The Diribala Exporter Development Programme in progress

• Launches ‘Diribala Exporter Development Programme’ to support MSME export sector 

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently conducted an awareness programme for 110 micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in the food and beverage sector, to equip them with the knowledge necessary to develop their businesses to enter the export market. 

The bank identified entrepreneurs with the potential to succeed as exporters to participate in this ‘Diribala Exporter Development Programme’ named after the bank’s flexible Diribala Development Loans scheme designed to cater to the requirements of small and medium scale agricultural, industrial, and business ventures.This programme was not limited to existing customers of Commercial Bank and half of the participants were introduced by the Industrial Development Board (IDB).

The programme representsthe commencement of a series of initiatives planned to promote small and medium enterprises, encourage exporters, and develop the local export sector, the Bank said. With the awareness programme, the bank’s goal was to identify local manufacturers who are potential exporters and educate them to produce goods in accordance with standards necessary to penetrate international markets, and to promote local producers to become indirect exporters or suppliers to direct exporters.

Besides preparing local MSMEs to be export-ready and strengthening the value chains of export-oriented enterprises, these initiatives are also aimed at improving foreign exchange earnings which are a dire need for the country, the bank said.

Resource persons for the programme were fromthe Industrial Development Board (IDB), Export Development Board (EDB), National Plant Quarantine Service of the Department of Agriculture and Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI).

Uchini Alwis, Enterprise Promotions Manager at the Technical Services Division of the IDB highlighted segments of the Food & Beverage Industry which have higher export potential and a vast array of production variations. 

Dr. Thushara Wickramaarachchi, Additional Director at theDepartment of Agriculture National Plant Quarantine Services (NPQS), educated the participants on region-specific regulations and compliance requirements. Kethaki Pelpola, Assistant Director at the Regional Development Division of the EDB focused on basic business attributes required to be an export customer.

Rasika Waduge, Deputy Director at the SLSI detailed the importance of Standardising and Certification of products and the increased value proposition added to products at market by such processes.

This inaugural ‘Diribala Exporter Development Programme’ organised by the Development Credit Department of the Banktook place at the Commercial Bank auditorium at Union Place, Colombo, under the purview of the Bank’s Deputy General Manager of Personal Banking – Delakshan Hettiarachchi, who focused on the importance of local manufacturers grooming themselves to become exporters in this dire economic situation of the country.   

Commercial Bank has conducted more than 130 awareness programmes and skills development programmes for MSMEs in different sectors of business in many areas of the country since 2011. These programmes have benefitted over 13,500 entrepreneurs and youth to date.

These programmes are supported by the bank’s 19 Agriculture & Micro Finance Units which play a key role in helping the bank to identify specific needs of entrepreneurs who require assistance to develop either their agriculture activities or micro businesses. These units are dedicated to promoting agriculture lending and micro finance.

Additionally, the bank’s 14 Regional SME Managers are dedicated to serving the SME segment of the bank. Commercial Bank provides services to all segments including micro-entrepreneurs, SMEs, and large corporates.