NDB conducts workshop in Ambalangoda
Investing in a heritage of craftsmanship:
NDB conducted a special workshop for entrepreneurs in the mask making
industry in Ambalangoda.
The workshop held in collaboration with the National Design Centre,
National Craft Council, Export Development Board (EDB), Lakpahana and
Laksala focused on
A craftsman at work |
providing the traditional mask makers with market
insight and contemporary business know-how in a bid to empower them to
take the sluggish industry into new heights. The event attracted over 50
mask industrialists from the area. A colorful range of skilled creations
of masks were also on display at the workshop for potential buyers that
attended the event.
Commenting on the initiative, Vice president and Head of SME and
Retail Banking of NDB Raj Aboobucker said "The mask industry of
Ambalangoda is a unique heritage of Sri Lanka which is currently showing
signs of debility and an increasing reluctance of the younger
generations to take up mask making as an occupation.
We identified that this sluggish growth can be directly attributed to
the lack of entrepreneurial knowledge in the traditional mask makers to
make their product propositions more competitive in the market place. As
a Bank that has been in the forefront of SME development, NDB has taken
the initiative to revive this valued industry with an aim to regain
interest within the market for these products, while providing the
entrepreneurs with wider market accessibility".
Through the full day workshop, NDB provided mask industrialists with
knowledge on the growing economic boom in the country highlighting
specific opportunities arising within the resultant growth of tourism
and export segments. The workshop also focused on sharing the much
needed business know-how, financial awareness as well as marketing and
branding tips to the mask makers.
The event facilitated market access to the entrepreneurs by bringing
them into direct contact with representatives from Laksala and Lakpahana
who had the opportunity of gathering valuable acumens and significant
characteristics of mask making industry from its titleholders.
NDB has been a pioneer in SME lending for over 30 years and our
services extend beyond financial assistance to provide advisory services
through workshops such as this and empower the grass root level
industrialists through livelihood development schemes such as 'Divi
Aruna'. |