SAFA SME Development Conference 2022 today

The South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) holds its SAFA SME Development Conference 2022 today, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., via the Zoom platform

The conference to celebrate the United Nations - Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day. It is organised by the SAFA International Relations Committee and hosted by the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (CMA Sri Lanka), on the theme ‘Supporting Small Businesses in Financial and Cost Management’. 

The inaugural session welcome and introductory remarks will be delivered by Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala, Chairman of the SAFA International Relations Committee, Past President of the SAFA and President of CMA Sri Lanka. The presentation on ‘Role of SAFA in SME Development’ will be delivered by H.M. Hennayake Bandara, President of the SAFA and Vice President of CMA Sri Lanka. 

The keynote presentation on ‘Developing a Financial Ecosystem for SMEs – Role of Credit Guarantee Institution’ will be delivered by Takuya Hoshino, Financial Sector Specialist of the Asian Development Bank and the guest of honour presentation on ‘Significance of UN MSME Day’ will be delivered by Simrin Singh, Country Director of the ILO representing UN Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The vote of thanks will be delivered by CA. Nihar N. Jambusaria, Vice President of the SAFA. 

Technical session two will be moderated by Ruchira Perera, Council Member of CMA Sri Lanka. The presentations will be delivered by Wickrama Narayana, Assistant General Manager of People’s Bank Sri Lanka on ‘The Role of Banking Sector in Restructuring and Rehabilitation of SMEs’, Dr. Chamara Bandara, CEO of Corporate Doctors (Pvt.) Ltd and Member of CMA Sri Lanka COVID-19 SME Development Committee, on ‘Cash Flow and Working Capital Management for SMEs’ and CA. Prakash Sharma, Chairman of SMP Committee of the SAFA on ‘The Role of SMPs to support SME Sector’. The session will conclude with a question and answer session.

Technical session three panel discussion will be moderated by Chaaminda Kumarasiri, Chairman/Principal Consultant of H C P Consulting (Pvt.) Ltd and Member of CMA Sri Lanka COVID-19 SME Development Committee. The representatives from the SAFA chartered and management accounting bodies of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives will share their experience on ‘South Asian Experiences in SME Development’. The session will also have a Q&A session.

The vote of thanks will be delivered by Permanent Secretary of the SAFA, CA Dr. Jai Kumar Batra. 
Those who wish to attend the conference are requested to send an e-mail to [email protected].