Five-day programme focused on inclusive finance, enterprise development, women’s economic participation and sustainable funding
DFCC Bank further strengthened its regional development-finance relationships by recently hosting representatives of Bhutan Development Bank Limited and the Asian Development Bank’s Bhutan Resident Mission for a five-day knowledge-sharing programme.
The programme focused on inclusive finance, SME and MSME development, women-focused banking and sustainable funding. It enabled the participating institutions to exchange experience, examine approaches that could be adapted across markets and explore opportunities for continued cooperation.
With a development-finance heritage spanning more than seven decades, DFCC Bank has extensive experience supporting Sri Lankan enterprises through different stages of growth. Established as the country’s pioneer development finance institution, the Bank was created to direct long-term capital towards businesses and industries capable of contributing to national development.
While DFCC Bank has since evolved into a commercial bank, this perspective continues to influence its work across enterprise development, sustainable finance, project finance and international funding partnerships. Its approach has also expanded to address the financial and non-financial barriers affecting women’s economic participation.
The programme examined how this experience is being applied through DFCC Pragathi, which supports micro, small and medium enterprises, and DFCC Aloka, which serves women across their personal, professional and entrepreneurial journeys.
Discussions considered how propositions for these customer segments are developed and delivered, including marketing, operations, credit assessment and collections. The programme also explored how access to finance can be combined with knowledge, capability development, professional networks and market opportunities to help enterprises become more resilient and grow sustainably.
Engagements with businesses across several sectors gave the delegation a practical view of how these approaches support enterprises operating in different economic contexts.
Sessions with DFCC Bank’s Investment Banking and Sustainability teams considered access to concessional funding, opportunities for impact investment and the role of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in guiding financial solutions that generate both commercial and social value.
Commenting on the programme, Thimal Perera, Director and Chief Executive Officer of DFCC Bank, said: “DFCC Bank’s development-finance heritage gives us experience that remains relevant across the region. This programme allowed us to share that experience, learn from our counterparts and explore how stronger institutional links can expand opportunity for SMEs and women entrepreneurs. That is where international collaboration creates lasting value.”
The engagement builds on DFCC Bank’s longstanding connection with the regional development-finance community. DFCC Bank and Bhutan Development Bank Limited are members of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific, while the Asian Development Bank is a special member of the Association.
DFCC Bank is also a founding and charter member of ADFIAP and recently hosted its 49th Annual Meetings in Colombo. The knowledge-sharing programme extended these international relationships into a focused institutional exchange centred on practical experience and shared development priorities.
By connecting DFCC Bank’s Sri Lankan experience with regional knowledge and international development expertise, the programme strengthened relationships that can support more inclusive enterprises, wider economic participation and sustainable growth across the region.
