By Zahara Zuhair
Celebrating its 10th year, the CIMA Corporate Partners Summit gave away mementoes to 22 corporate partners for the year 2017 at an event held in Colombo.
At the event, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants Executive Vice President Lawson Carmichael talking about the future of the professions and businesses said that it’s going through a rapid transformation and stressed the importance of adapting to changes and being prepared.
He said that external forces such as geographical instability, technology and cyber issues, workforce changes, regulatory complexity and financial challenges are driving the change.
Noting that companies around the world already have initiated changes, he cited examples such as Apple moving from ecosystem to partnerships, Google from search to driverless cars and consumer products, Amazon from shipping to delivery services and cloud, Microsoft from software to mobile and games having been transformed business models.
Sharing future predicaments and developments, he said that the CEOs in the next three years have a more critical role to play and four in 10 transform their companies into significantly different entities in the next three years. He said that 62 percent will be using disruptive technology to improve products and services. Further, 65 percent will pursue growth through partnerships. 
Association of International Certified Professional Accountants Asia Pacific Management Accounting Regional Vice President Venkkat Ramanan talking about the corporate summit said that one of the objectives of the summit is to give access to key talents. 
He said that they are looking forward to moving it from a normal corporate programme to a strategic corporate programme in the next few years.
With its inception in 2007, the CIMA Corporate Partners Programme has facilitated greater employment opportunities for students and members, mentoring future leaders, supporting innovation in the accounting profession and fostering greater insights and dialogue amongst the country’s 
business community.
Lankem Ceylon PLC, Diesel and Motor Engineering PLC, Hayleys PLC, Siam City Cement (Lanka) Ltd, John Keells Holdings, MAS Holdings, National Development Bank PLC, Hirdaramani Group of Companies, Fonterra Brands Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd, Aitken Spence PLC, HSBC Electronic Data Processing Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd, Lanka Orix Leasing Company PLC, Associated Motorways (Pvt.) Ltd, Unilever Lanka, Brandix i3, Dharmavahini Foundation and Wijeya Newspapers Ltd were unveiled as Platinum partners for this year.
Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC, Seylan Bank PLC, Néstle Lanka PLC, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC and Sampath Bank Ltd were unveiled as Gold partners.