The senior holders of the status of ‘SLIM Certified Professional Marketer’ (CPM) engaged in an open discussion with the president of the Asian Marketing Federation (AMF),Gwen Albarracin at SLIM home, Colombo recently.
The objectiveof the meeting was to discuss the way forward for AMF activities in Sri Lanka while providing a forum for a mutualsharing of experiences.
Gwen Albaracinmade an appearance as a special guest at Brand Excellence 2016 organized by SLIM which was held on the 8th of November and this is her first visit to a member country after coming into her role as President. Her discussion with CPM senior status holders coincided with this event.
SLIM being the national body for marketing in Sri Lanka grooms aspiring marketers to become leading marketing professionals in the country and beyond.  With this core objective, SLIM as the only accredited study center in Sri Lanka for CPM studies facilitating Sri Lankan marketers to obtain CPM (Asia) status which is conferred by the prestigious Asian Marketing Federation (AMF). 
AMF, representing 16 Asian countries in the region endorses professionalism of marketers in the region with the CPM certification.
CPM certification sheds light on an individual’s professional competency, high standards of experience, knowledge and conduct. Thus CPM status endorses a person as a fully fledged marketer that could be looked up by his/her employer, clients/customers and peers in the marketing sphere.
The President of SLIM, Upul Adikari welcomed the AMF president and senior CPM status holders by stating that the organizing this forum was an initiative towards maintaining a strong relationship between AMF and SLIM.
“SLIM constantly carries out macro activities in the country to facilitate and elevate the nation’s value. Our vision being to support Sri Lanka’s efforts towards sustainable development and economic prosperity, whilst creatingthe best marketing forums for networking facilitates in the process. SLIM intendson conducting many more activities for the benefit of the CPM fraternity in the future,” he added. President of the AMF, Gwen Albaracin shared her plans towards the growth of AMF activities in the region. 
“CPM (Asia) is the highest recognition for marketers who have attained a competent level of academic and practical understanding of marketing in the Asian region. Persons who have the CPM (Asia) status have endeavoured in championing the growth of their respective companies to become influential marketers in the region. These facts are sheer proof of the importance and credibility of the CPM (Asia) qualification,” she commented.
“SLIM being one of the most credible marketing institutes in the region is very concerned about the professional growth of its members and students. SLIM grooms passionate and experienced marketers who could rub shoulders with their peers in the global marketing sphere”, she endorsed.
Albaracin added, “I believe SLIM having its members as CEOs and CMOs in the best companies in the country is the best mentor for CPM program in Asia. I invite Sri Lankan marketers to follow the CPM program at SLIM”.
Those senior CPM (Asia) status holders who participated in the event were; SLIM Past President Nalin Artiyagala, Prof. Kamalgoda, Nishan Navarathna, Wasantha Mallikarachchi, Sarath Fernando and Rohan Somawansa (Vice President AMF). Also attending were Adel Hashim, Dr Rizwan Jaldeen, Senaka Amaratunga, Sudarshana Jayatilaka and Taraka Ranwala.
Sharing their experiences, ideas and suggestions they saidthe CPM (Asia) status inspires and motivates young and budding marketers on their quest to climb the corporate ladder. 
Further all CPM holders endorsed CPM as the only professional qualification that bestows marketers with the experience and confidence necessary to handle the Asian market.They urged the need for further networking opportunities to strengthen Asian Marketers.
The CPM members stated thattheyhave already announced that the CPM status is one of the main criterions to apply for marketing related job vacancies.
Secretary of SLIM, Suranjith Swaris commented, “In the view of celebrating the 20th anniversary of CPM at SLIM in Sri Lanka, this is the very first forum organized by SLIM for the CPM fraternity and SLIM will organizeinnovative activities in the future with a view to offering all CPM holders networking opportunities with the regional marketing fraternities in Asia”.
AMF’s crucial mission is to effectively promote the interests in marketing in Asia in general with a view to strengthening the Asian marketing fraternity.