Tokyo Cement Group partnered the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, to launch ‘Divi Shakthi’ training workshops for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who are part of the Tokyo Cement Dealer Network.
The participants, nominated by the Regional Sales Teams, are successful small to medium scale retail traders, providing job opportunities and economic mobility in their respective local communities. This training is to boost their confidence to grow the businesses from being modest family-owned trades to the next level as thriving entrepreneurships. The objective was to build upon 30 years of relationships we have nurtured with our sales channel and strengthen the bonds of loyalty in an increasingly competitive and evolving marketplace.
The training course, utilizing proprietary training tools provided by the IFC cover SME specific pain points and is particularly meant for owners and managers of businesses engaged in dealerships and distribution trade. The subjects include new opportunity creation, customer retention and relationship management, non-price-based competition as well as finance, inventory and cashflow management.
The program was initiated as part of the efforts to support the economic and social development in seven former conflict-affected districts in the North and East. During the 1st year we were able to train over 200 dealers in Mannar, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Ampara, and Batticaloa, as a joint investment program with the IFC.
As the program gained momentum Tokyo Cement Group took sole ownership of the program and expanded it to other parts of the island to encompass our entire dealer network. The extended program was rolled out in Badulla, Moneragala, Kandy, Kurunegala, Dambulla, Gampaha, Colombo, Rathnapura, Kalutara, and Galle districts training more than 500 dealers.
