Pan Asia Bank becomes industry first to onboard SMEConnect platform

Pan Asia Bank, which has taken significant steps in empowering entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Sri Lanka, has partnered with the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) to onboard the ‘SMEConnect’ platform. 
This initiative, funded by the Asian Development Bank and supported by the technical expertise of Deloitte, is part of a broader national programme targeting the development of SMEs under one platform.

The comprehensive resource hub for entrepreneurs is called the SMEConnect platform. An initiative by the NEDA and Industries Ministry, it acts as a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs who can access different services. It offers learning opportunities, mentoring programmes, networking and provision of support in areas specific to women entrepreneurship. As part of this collaboration, Pan Asia Bank will take the lead in providing financial knowledge, business mentorship and expertise to the platform by linking content, reports, data and sharing success stories from Pan Asia Bank’s customers. By working together with the SMEConnect platform, Pan Asia Bank plans to increase the pool of resources accessible to entrepreneurs, thereby improving their chances at getting better insights that fuel growth, innovation and financial support. 
Pan Asia Bank Director/CEO Naleen Edirisinghe said the move also demonstrates the bank’s efforts towards nurturing innovation, financial knowledge and entrepreneurial skills among businessmen and businesswomen in
Sri Lanka.