HUTCH Partners With SLIM to recognise excellence across Sri Lanka’s marketing, sales and business sectors, supporting four major award platforms that highlight innovation, performance, entrepreneurship and sustainable business practices.
HUTCH Partners With SLIM to support marketing, sales and entrepreneurial excellence
HUTCH has entered into a partnership with the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), bringing together the telecommunications and technology company’s business ecosystem with four of Sri Lanka’s prominent recognition platforms for marketing, sales and entrepreneurial achievement.
The partnership covers the National Sales Awards, SLIM Digi Awards, SME Development Awards and Effie Awards. Together, the programmes recognise a broad range of achievements, from measurable sales performance and digital marketing innovation to SME growth, strategic thinking, execution and business effectiveness.
The collaboration comes as businesses across Sri Lanka increasingly rely on stronger marketing capabilities, digital adoption and innovation to compete in changing domestic and international markets. By aligning with established industry recognition programmes, HUTCH aims to support an environment where companies and professionals can learn from proven practices while receiving recognition for their contributions.
The National Sales Awards focus on sales practices demonstrated through measurable results, while the SLIM Digi Awards recognise innovation and impact in digital marketing. The SME Development Awards highlight small and medium-sized enterprises that demonstrate strength in areas including marketing, sales, innovation and sustainable business practices. The Effie Awards, meanwhile, focus on marketing effectiveness, recognising strategic thinking, execution, teamwork and measurable performance.
Through the partnership, HUTCH will be associated with programmes that bring together a wide cross-section of Sri Lanka’s business community. This includes business leaders, marketers, sales professionals, entrepreneurs, SMEs and corporate decision-makers who participate in SLIM’s national programmes.
For HUTCH Partners With SLIM, the collaboration also extends beyond awards and recognition. The partnership reflects HUTCH’s broader focus on helping businesses improve their capabilities and expand their digital and commercial potential through technology and accessible business solutions.
SLIM serves as the apex professional body for marketers in Sri Lanka and provides a platform through which professionals and businesses can engage with marketing knowledge, industry developments and professional opportunities. Its programmes attract participants from different sectors of the economy, creating a broad network of business and marketing professionals.
The partnership therefore gives HUTCH an opportunity to engage directly with a community that is closely connected to business growth and transformation. It also places greater emphasis on the role of marketing and sales capabilities in helping companies strengthen their competitiveness.
HUTCH is backed by CK Hutchison Holdings, a Global Fortune 500 corporation, and provides telecommunications and enterprise solutions to businesses ranging from large corporates to SMEs and startups. Its enterprise offering is positioned around helping businesses adopt technology and support their digital and business scale-up journeys.
For smaller businesses in particular, access to cost-effective technology and digital tools can be an important component of growth. The partnership with SLIM places HUTCH alongside an organisation focused on strengthening professional marketing capabilities, creating a connection between business technology and the skills required to use it effectively.
Rajiv David, Vice President Events & Sustainability at SLIM, welcomed the partnership, describing HUTCH as a brand that has expanded its positioning beyond traditional telecommunications through technology and digital innovation. He said the collaboration reflects a shared interest in providing businesses, marketers and entrepreneurs with greater access to knowledge, innovation and opportunities for growth.
Hamdhy Hassen, Chief Marketing Officer of HUTCH Sri Lanka, said the company views brand leadership in terms of empowering the people and businesses contributing to Sri Lanka’s economy. He said the partnership enables HUTCH to engage with professionals and entrepreneurs shaping the country’s business landscape.
The emphasis on recognition is particularly relevant for SMEs and entrepreneurs, which form an important part of Sri Lanka’s business community. Recognition programmes can provide businesses with opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities, benchmark their work and gain visibility among peers and potential partners.
At the same time, the four award platforms cover different aspects of commercial performance. Sales effectiveness, digital marketing, SME development and broader marketing effectiveness represent distinct but interconnected areas of business growth. Bringing them together under one partnership gives HUTCH a presence across several parts of the business ecosystem.
The collaboration also highlights the increasing connection between technology and modern marketing. As businesses adopt digital channels, data-driven decision-making and technology-enabled customer engagement, marketing performance increasingly depends on the ability to combine strategy with effective digital execution.
The SLIM Awards programmes supported through the partnership provide a platform for businesses and professionals to showcase these capabilities, while HUTCH’s enterprise technology focus adds another dimension to the wider conversation around business transformation.
For Sri Lanka’s business community, the partnership brings together a technology provider and the country’s leading professional marketing body around a common platform for recognising commercial achievement. As businesses continue to adapt to evolving customer behaviour, digitalisation and competitive pressures, the emphasis on innovation, measurable performance and professional development is likely to remain central to the country’s growth agenda.