NDB Group conducts investor forum in Singapore
Over 50 top fund managers based in Singapore got a thorough insight
regarding the investment opportunities in Sri Lanka including stock
market as well as fixed income investment opportunities. In a pioneering
move NDB Group was invited by DBS Vickers Securities to showcase Sri
Lanka at their annual 'Pulse of Asia' Conference. NDB Bank entered into
a MOU with DBS in September last year. The presentation was carried out
under the theme 'Invest in Sri Lanka - Be a part of the South Asian
Miracle'.
Held recently at Singapore's popular business venue Fullerton Hotel,
four presentations were conducted for groups of investors. The
presentations were followed by actively participated one to one meetings
with the participants. This was an initial attempt to get Sri Lanka into
the investment radar of top fund managers in Singapore. Sri Lanka was
thought to be 'too small' to generate interest among these large-scale
investors in the past. However according to the responses received at
the end of the presentations, these investors would commence covering
Sri Lanka with a view of investing in the future.
The presentation consisted of the economic and political progress
made with the end of the war and the prospects of the Sri Lankan stock
market. Three premier companies with attractive valuations were
presented as well as an overview of the fixed income investment
opportunities in Sri Lanka. It was pointed out that regulations in
relation to foreign investments in corporate debentures, unit trusts and
foreign borrowings by local firms were relaxed by the Central Bank in
the recent past. In addition to the presentation, a comprehensive
research report on Sri Lanka's equity market opportunities were handed
over to participants, which consisted of six listed companies.
NDB Bank CEO Russel de Mel noted that the fund managers were very
keen to know about the Sri Lanka growth story and impressed by the
robust economic prospects.
The initiative by NDB Group was held weeks after President Mahinda
Rajapaksa urging stockbrokers to go overseas and promote Sri Lanka to
draw investments. This request was further emphasized at the 'Road map
for monetary and financial sector policies for 2012 and beyond'
presentation by the Governor of the Central Bank.
"These investors have not invested in Sri Lanka before. We made a
strong case to convince them to look at Sri Lanka in a favourable way
with the objective of investing in both equity and fixed income
instruments," said NDB Investment Banking Cluster CEO Vajira Kulatilaka. |