ADB, HNB in US$ 20 m agreement to strengthen Sri Lankan microfinance institutions
View(s):HNB PLC has announced the signing of a new partnership agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in order to expand lending and provide guarantees of up to US$20 million to support development of Sri Lanka’s burgeoning microfinance sector.
From left - Jeffrey B. Soriano, Credit Analyst(Consultant)-ADB; Niroshini Wettasinha, Head of Legal, HNB; Vishwanath Gunawardena, Senior Manager, Development Banking, HNB; Sabine Spohn, Senior Investment Specialist- ADB; Jude Fernando, Deputy General Manager – SME & Midmarket, HNB; Melissa Jane Y. Escurel – Associate Investment Officer-ADB and Bandara Rekogama, Senior Manager – Microfinance of HNB
Arranged under the ADB’s Microfinance Risk Participation and Guarantee Programme, the agreement was signed by ADB Private Sector Financial Institutions Division Senior Investment Specialist Sabine Spohn and HNB Deputy General Manager – SME & Midmarket Jude Fernando at a formal ceremony in Colombo, the bank said in a media release.
“Today’s agreement between HNB and the ADB is a major step forward in our collective mission to support this vital sector. When we combine funding with comprehensive advisory services – all of which are heavily slanted to ensure the maximum benefit to the end- customer, we enable fresh economic opportunity in segments that are small, but hold tremendous growth potential. Partnerships such as these are therefore vital in creating a sustainable trajectory for our nation’s economy,” Mr. Fernando stated.
Currently, many microfinance institutions struggle to access funds for growth from the commercial market to meet the demands of clients. Only approximately 17 per cent of women have access to formal financial services in Sri Lanka. Through the Microfinance Programme, ADB and HNB aim to fill market gaps by sharing risks to promote local currency lending to these institutions. This helps mitigate microfinance institutions’ exposure to foreign exchange risks.
“We are excited to partner with HNB, an established player in microfinance in Sri Lanka,” said Ms. Spohn. “Our partnership will help further expand the Microfinance Programme, which has already facilitated more than $846 million in local currency loans across the region since 2012. Together, HNB and ADB will improve access to financial services to even more low- income families and small-business owners, especially in rural and remote areas in Sri Lanka.”
Having been among the very first to enter the sector, HNB is an internationally recognized pioneer in the microfinance and SME sectors. Through award winning programmes like HNB Gami Pubuduwa, the bank has consistently worked to support entrepreneurship across Sri Lanka.