New Delhi, India, May 26, 2011—
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has rolled out its Business Edge training for business owners and managers in India. The interactive training program will help improve management skills and support productivity and efficiency improvements for small and medium enterprises and middle managers of larger firms.
IFC’s Business Edge program uses a comprehensive set of self-study books and training modules adapted to the local business context. Key themes include marketing, human resources, production, operations, finance, accounting, and productivity skills.
IFC’s Business Edge team is working with Apollo Tyres, an Indian manufacturer and existing client to train its distributors. Participant from seven Indian states of Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Chattisgarh have already been trained on Basics of Sales and Marketing.
“The Business Edge program is a new and innovative initiative, the first of its kind in the tyre industry in India. We look forward to working jointly with IFC in developing a program that will better equip our business partners for the future,” said Rajesh Dahiya, National Head for Sales and Marketing, Apollo Tyres.
Local training-service provider S. Chand is partnering with IFC in implementing Business Edge in India. Together they are exploring interventions to support small businesses, larger corporations and government institutions across the country.
“There is an urgent need for standardized management training and capacity building for small and medium enterprises in India. IFC is working to provide practical training solutions to improve business performance and competitiveness to develop the sector,” said William Beloe, IFC South Asia Head for Sustainable Business Advisory.
Globally, IFC delivers Business Edge training services through a network of local franchised providers and certified trainers supported and monitored by IFC to ensure consistent performance standards. To date, the training has reached about 142,000 participants in 29 developing countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. Key international companies have selected Business Edge to train their suppliers and distributors in sectors such as telecommunications, pharmaceutical, and banking. IFC is replicating a similar model in India and is keen to introduce the Business Edge training program with Apollo Tyres in South Africa as well.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. We create opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives—by providing financing to help businesses employ more people and provide essential services, mobilizing capital from others, and delivering advisory and risk-management services to ensure sustainable development. In a time of global economic uncertainty, our new investments climbed to a record $18 billion in fiscal 2010. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
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