Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Monday, 3 July 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
For over three decades NDB has extended its unwavering support to empower Sri Lankan entrepreneurs towards improving their potential. Initially as a development bank and now as a fully-fledged commercial bank, NDB has from its origin responded to the needs of the SME sector by giving adequate support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which are known to be the backbone of any economy.
The bank has identified the dynamics of SME and has been involved in designing new and innovative approaches to reach SMEs. NDB has introduced customised financial propositions for SMEs and has provided capacity enhancement programs for bank staff to better understand and respond to varied SME needs. The diversity of available financial products in the strength and understanding dynamics help the bank to give the right advice and the right plan at each stage of an SME’s lifecycle to support the future success of any SME business.
NDB has extended financial assistance to projects in the key growth subsectors covering tourism, construction, agriculture, manufacturing and the service sector. Taking into account the anticipated growth levels in the tourism industry, the bank has geared up to face the anticipated demand for infrastructure development. A large number of SME hotel projects in all regions of the country including in the Northern and Eastern provinces have also been assisted.
NDB strongly believes that there is tremendous entrepreneurial potential at the provincial and grassroots levels of Sri Lanka. With this potential NDB’s SME and micro finance programs are geared to leverage it and offer competencies in order to empower small-scale entrepreneurs. NDB reaches out to a diverse range of SME and micro segments, including farmers venturing into organic paddy cultivation, floriculturists and small-scale street food vendors to name a few.
Coupled with building a strong credit culture among the beneficiary, the bank‘s role includes the provision of technical knowledge and extension services, often in collaboration with Government institutions.
NDB’s network of 106 branches is available in the neediest areas of the country with surging SMEs, while making conscious efforts to energise various industries that are unique to respective localities.
As a result of NDB’s efforts to bring meaningful change to the SME industry, the bank was felicitated with the ‘Best SME Bank Sri Lanka’ award by Global Banking and Finance Review 2017. NDB Director/CEO Dimantha Seneviratne said: “We are indeed humbled by the international recognition we have received today. It a testament of the dedication and commitment the bank has extended in developing the SME sector in Sri Lanka. I also wish to thank our staff islandwide for their continuous hard work towards achieving our vision.”
NDB remains dedicated to bringing its customers one step closer to accomplishing their lifelong ambitions and uplifting their standards of living through the range of services that is accessible through its growing branch network. Further details on NDB’s many products can be obtained from its 24-hour call centre, by calling 011 2448888 or visiting NDB bank’s website www.ndbbank.com.
