News - ADFIAP - Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific

ADFIAP, ECO-Asia organize water finance consultative meeting

ADFIAP and ECO-Asia, an initiative of USAID, organized a consultative meeting on January 29, 2009 at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati, City, Metro Manila, to discuss the proposed micro-water financing program of Peoples Credit and Finance Corporation (PCFC), an apex microfinance institution (MFI) in the Philippines, as part of ADFIAP’s project on developing a water financing strategy for DFIs in Asia funded by ECO-Asia/USAID.

The consultation was also part of a series of earlier meetings of the three signatories to the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), i.e., PCFC, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP), to work together to provide financing to small water service providers in urban and rural areas in the country. It is envisioned that this microfinance program for the water sector can be replicated in other countries in the region to address water access for the poor.

35 senior officials from PCFC, LWUA, RBAP and the National Anti-Poverty Commission as well as the MFI’s loan and planning officers attended the meeting and threshed out the respective roles of the involved institutions, the modality of the water microfinance program, and the proposed next steps of the program. The group agreed to finetune the proposed micro-water financing program and to eventually seek final approval of the lending facility.

For more details of the event and the water finance project, please visit the ECO-Asia website at http://usaid.eco-asia.org and the ADFIAP website at http://www.adfiap.org or email the ADFIAP Secretariat at inquiries@adfiap.org

IDF runs 2nd key performance indicators workshop in Manila

ADFIAP’s Institute of Development Finance (IDF) held its second international seminar-workshop on "Key Performance Indicators for Financial Institutions" on June 1-5, 2009 at the AIM Center in Makati City, Metro Manila. Twenty six (26) senior-level officers of ADFIAP members and other financial institutions from Bhutan, India, Malaysia, Fiji, Palau, Samoa and the Philippines attended the training event.

The workshop was aimed at developing for financial institutions, particularly DFIs, a set of guidelines in measuring their performance by considering both financial and non-financial indicators, i.e., economic, environmental and social, as well as their governance practices. This triple bottom line approach with governance at its core is a performance measurement tool that ADFIAP envisions to develop as a rating mechanism for its members.

While performance indicators vary across countries, the workshop showed that a common set of KPIs can be used to measure and report the DFIs’ contribution to the country’s sustainable development goals. In addition, the seminar explored in more depth certain KPIs for DFIs that serve the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. SME banks have been recently established in a number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region which are members of ADFIAP.

To validate the KPIs they themselves developed during the workshop, the participants visited two of the biggest development banks in the country – the Development Banks of the Philippines and Planters Development Bank – where they were briefed on the subject.

The main resource persons of the workshop were Dr. Cesar Saldaña and Ms. Fatima Reyes. For more details on the program, please contact Ms. Sandra Honrado, Senior Executive, Programs at shonrado@adfiap.org

ADFIAP participates in UNDP Cambodia workshop

ADFIAP, represented by its Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Roy Sobrecarey, participated in the workshop that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) conducted in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on May 26, 2009. The theme of the workshop was “Trade Finance for SMEs – Cambodia’s Responses to the Global Economic Crisis”. The Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia initiated and hosted the event with the sponsorship and facilitation by the UNDP and the International Trade Centre (ITC).

The workshop was well attended by nearly a hundred representatives of various SME associations, banks and financial institutions as well as officers of the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Economy and Finance, National Bank of Cambodia and other agencies. Through presentations and discussions during the open forum, the workshop tackled the lack of formal financing facilities for SMEs and exporters in Cambodia, and identified solutions ranging from institutional to capacity-building. The most significant result of the workshop was the endorsement by the Ministry of Commerce of the preparation of a feasibility study for the creation of an Export-Import Bank of Cambodia.

After the welcome addresses by the Ministers and dignitaries, ADFIAP opened up the workshop by presenting the collective experience of its members on the rationale of a development financing institution (DFI) such as an export-import bank as a policy tool in promoting the development of strategic economic sectors including SME and exports. The other participants in the workshop that also made presentations were the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Export-Import Bank of India, Agence Francaise De Developpement, and COFACE.

ADFIAP’s IDF, SME Bank Thailand hold Study Tour Program on SME Finance

ADFIAP’s Asia-Pacific Institute of Development Finance (IDF) in cooperation with the SME Development Bank of Thailand, has conducted a 5-day study tour program on SME finance in Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand from May 18 to 22, 2009. Nine (9) participants from Bhutan, India, Malaysia, Niue, and Palau attended the program.

Since 2006, the IDF has been organizing study tour programs on SME finance in Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines, aimed at familiarizing and exposing participating ADFIAP members with the different strategies and techniques employed by other members in their respective countries. The program also serves as a platform for members to exchange information, experiences, and best practices in the area of SME financing. Similar study tour programs on microfinance are also being held regularly by the IDF. For more details on study tour programs, please email the IDF at inquiries@adfiap.org

For the Thailand program, the participants learned the country’s current approaches and strategies on SME financing through visits to financial institutions. The first of such sessions was the meeting with senior officers of the SME Development Bank of Thailand led by its President, Mr. Soros Sakornvisava. The other institutions that the group visited were the Government Savings Bank, Small Business Credit Guarantee Corporation and the Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand. There were also briefing for the participants by senior officials of the Department of Industrial Promotion of the Ministry of Industry of Thailand and the Office of SME Promotions. The participants also visited projects that are financed by the SME Developement Bank of Thailand. These were the Chaweewan Farm (poultry) in Chonburi province and the NWT Corporation (wood processing) and Lotus Crystal Company Ltd. (dinnerware manufacturing), both in the Rayong province.

The IDF was represented by ADFIAP Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Roy Sobrecarey and Sr. Executive for Membership, Ms. Sandy Lim.

ADFIAP invited to GCGF's Corporate Governance Board Leadership Program

On invitation of the World Bank/IFC's Global Corporate Governance Forum (GCGF), ADFIAP, represented by Mr. Victor C. Abainza, Executive Director, PDB-FMO Development Center of Planters Development Bank, attended "Training of Trainers' Program on Corporate Governance Board Leadership" from May 13-16, 2009 at the IFC Office in Beijing, China.

The 4-day event, jointly organized by IFC-China, GCGF, the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE), and Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SeSE), was attended by twenty (20) participants, mostly directors, regulators, training directors and practitioners from Mongolia, China, and the Philippines.

The workshop provided a venue for a peer-to-peer learning and knowledge-sharing for trainers on GCGF's Corporate Governance Board Leadership Training Resources Toolkit. The resource toolkit serves a growing need for curriculum and teaching methodologies relevant to corporate governance training. Furthermore, innovative training approaches and training presentation skills were discussed as tools to further disseminate the resource toolkits in corporate governance trainings in China, Mongolia and the Philippines.

The occasion also afforded a meeting between GCGF Head, Mr. Philip Armstrong, and Mr. Abainza on a potential cooperation between ADFIAP and GCGF on corporate governance Board leadership capacity-building across the ADFIAP membership and its partners.

GCGF www.gcgf.org is an International Finance Corporation (IFC) multi-donor trust fund facility located within IFC Advisory Services. The GCGF was co-founded by the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1999. Through its activities the GCGF aims to promote the private sector as an engine of growth, reduce the vulnerability of developing and transition economies to financial crisis, and provide incentives for corporations to invest and perform efficiently ina socially responsible manner.

Delegates highly rate Muscat Meetings

Over a hundred delighted delegates from ADFIAP’s member-institutions and other regional and international organizations from 36 countries convened at the Shangri-La Barr Jissah Resort and Spa in Muscat, Oman for the 32nd ADFIAP Annual Meetings held on April 27-30, 2009. The event, graciously hosted by the Oman Development Bank, was timely themed, “Financing Development Amidst the Global Crisis: DFIs Responses, Challenges and Opportunities”, with the participants exchanging experiences on the impact of the current global economic turmoil on their respective countries and institutions.

Although from diverse situations, common national issues came out during the discussions, such as slowdown on exports, increasing unemployment, easing of credit availability as well as institutional issues like build-up of non-performing loans, less demand for credit, risk management strengthening, etc. The delegates, however, felt that the Asia-Pacific region, unlike North America and Europe, is better positioned to cope with the present problem, having weathered the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990’s with good lessons to learn.

Other highlights of the annual meetings included the 18th Ordinary Meeting of the General Assembly, the 69th Board of Directors’ Meeting, the Gala Dinner and Awards Night, Delegate-Meets-Delegate Networking Session, Shared Interest Group Meetings, the Fellowship Day and the drafting of the “Muscat Declaration” (please see related story) as the culminating action agenda for ADFIAP and its members.

The event was inaugurated by His Excellency Ahmed Bin Abdulnabi Macki, Minister of National Economy & Deputy Chairman of the Financial Affairs & Energy Resources, Council of the Sultanate of Oman and graced by senior officials of the country.

ADFIAP launches 1st Sustainability Report

In step with its thrust to advance issues on sustainable development, ADFIAP has published its first ever integrated annual and sustainability report for 2008. The report was launched during the 32nd ADFIAP Annual Meetings held at in Omani capital of Muscat (please see related story). An electronic version of the report is available at www.adfiap.org

This was the first sustainability report ADFIAP prepared in compliance with the C level indicators of the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) G3 Reporting Guidelines. The ADFIAP report was self-declared and complied with 12 sets of performance indicators relevant and material to the Association’s sustainability performance.

The mission of the GRI is to promote international harmonization in the reporting of relevant and credible corporate economic, environmental and social performance information to enhance responsible decision-making. The GRI, through an international stakeholders process, creates and reviews a set of sustainability performance indicators for organizations.

Also, for the first time in its 33-year history, ADFIAP has engaged in a voluntary carbon emission offset of the total travel miles and energy use of its Manila-based Secretariat office in 2008.

Eight members win ADFIAP Awards 2009

Recognizing their contribution to the development of their respective countries, eight member-institutions were honored during this year’s ADFIAP “Outstanding Development Project Awards” program held during the Gala Dinner and Awards Night on April 30, 2009 in Muscat, Oman.

The winners for this year’s edition of the Awards were: Development Bank of Japan, Inc. for its environmentally-responsible management evaluation program; Small Industries Development Bank of India for its enterprise management development services project; the Development Bank of Kazakhstan for its investment in the construction of a waste recycling complex; DFCC Bank of Sri Lanka for its “VS Turbo Limited turbine manufacturing project; Export-Import Bank of India for its overseas investment finance program; Rural Development Bank of Cambodia for its integrated approach to promote a strategic commodity (rice); the Development Bank of Samoa for its microcredit assistance to women groups; and the Development Bank of the Philippines for its national endowment for education program.

The ADFIAP “Outstanding Development Project Awards” are given to members, which in the judgment of the ADFIAP Awards Board, have implemented or enhanced outstanding and innovative development projects during the immediate past year. There are ten categories in all for the Awards – human capital development, environmental development, SME development, infrastructure development, technology development, trade development, local economic development, development finance-led poverty alleviation, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility.

Special citation awards were given to Bank Keshavarzi for its “Tooba Plan” project; the Philippine Export-Import Credit Agency for its SME wholesale lending program and the Bank of Industry and Mine for financing the construction of mega infrastructure projects.

The following institutions were also given special awards: First Payor Award was given to Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI); Top Member Recruiter was given to Oman Development Bank; Best Annual Report went to Development Bank of Kazakhstan; and Best Website was given to Small Industries Development Bank of India.

The complete line-up of winners of the ADFIAP Awards 2009 is posted at www.adfiap.org/awards.php

SIDBI's Malla, CEO-of-the-Year

Receiving this year’s much-coveted “Outstanding CEO Award” was Shri Rajender Mohan Malla, Chairman and Managing Director of the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for his achievements in spurring the development of micro, small and medium enterprises in his country.

Mr. Malla has pioneered a number of new initiatives having far-reaching implications for the Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). His policy recommendation on providing immediate liquidity to MSMEs was implemented by the Government. The policy allows MSMEs to restructure their accounts, widen their credit guarantee coverage, and to set up an MSME grievance help-desk.

With his constant policy advocacy, the Government of India was able to provide refinance assistance of more than US$ 2.0 billion to SIDBI for on-lending to MSMEs, providing great relief to the sector to tide over their problems of liquidity constraints and delayed payments.

Mr. Malla also demonstrated a clear vision of corporate social responsibility for the poor in rural areas by strengthening the microfinance institutions (MFIs) by way of providing them special equity and capacity-building support to enable them to emerge as viable alternative financial institutions to the commercial banks in the unorganized rural sector. This focused approach has resulted in SIDBI supporting over 120 MFIs in India and benefiting more than 5.5 million poor, mostly women.

Under his leadership, he was also instrumental in setting up for the first time in India, an asset reconstruction company, the SME Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (ISARC) which exclusively manages the non-performing accounts of the MSME sector in the country as well as the SME Stock Exchange.

The CEO Award is given to a practicing chief executive officer, whose singular talent, leadership, vision and achievement, in the judgment of the Awards Board, stands out among the other nominees of the award. Without focusing on the size of the institution, the judges assess the stature of the individual, the positive effects that the persons leadership has had on his or her institution, and the impact this leader’s decision have had in the development banking profession, in particular, and on the development of the country, in general.

Congratulations, Mr. Malla!

Ambassador Tambunting, Distinguished Person 2009

Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting, Chairman & CEO of Planters Development Bank in the Philippines and immediate past Chairman of ADFIAP, was bestowed the “Distinguished Person of the Year” awardee for 2009 during the ADFIAP Awards Night held at the Shangri-La Barr Jissah Resort and Spa in Muscat, Oman.

Ambassador Tambunting is the epitome of the ADFIAP Distinguished Person – visionary, advocate, capacity-builder and innovator of development finance. For over 35 years, Ambassador Tambunting passionately dedicated his energy, time and resources in making Planters Development Bank become the country’s premier small and medium enterprise (SME) bank.

Plantersbank’s successful SME finance model has attracted investments from prestigious international institutions, including the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation and the German Development and Investment Company (DEG). This has allowed Plantersbank to make financial knowledge and resources of Europe, Asia and North America available to Philippine entrepreneurs.

Going forward, Plantersbank is determined to cement its dominance in the SME sector and to make its brand synonymous to SMEs. Its blueprint for "Enabling Entrepreneurs" envisions a deeper role in the SME sector, thus helping accelerate the drive for economic progress, sustainability and countryside modernization.

Outside his activities in Plantersbank, Ambassador Tambunting is active in the community, being Co-Chairman of the Philippine-British Business Council, member of the Philippine-US Business Council, and member of the Board of Trustees of the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation and of the ABS-CBN Bayan Foundation. He is a member of the Makati Business Club National Issues Committee. From 2004 to May 2008, he served as Chairman of ADFIAP. He also sits in the Board of Directors of Globe Telecom Inc. and Philam Asset Management, Inc.

Ambassador Tambunting served as the Philippines’ Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 1993 to 1998. At the same time, he concurrently served as Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland and as Permanent Philippine Representative to the International Maritime Organization.

Ambassador Tambunting was conferred "Management Man of the Year 2003" by the Management Association of the Philippines, the "Lifetime Achievement Award for 2005" by the Asian Bankers Association and “Knight Commander with Star of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem” in 2008.

The ADFIAP “Distinguished Person Award” is a lifetime achievement award given to a person who has, in his or her chosen career, excelled and made a mark in the country or internationally for his or her outstanding accomplishment(s) in the field of development, in general, and in the development banking profession, in particular.

Congratulations, Ambassador Tambunting!

Bovoro, new Honorary Member

The ADFIAP General Assembly has conferred an honorary membership to Mr. Tukana Bovoro Arivakisati for serving the Association as Board Director, representing Fiji Development Bank (FDB), for many years and for his valuable contribution to ADFIAP. Mr. Bovoro was instrumental in FDB’s hosting of the 28th ADFIAP Annual Meetings in Nadi, Fiji in 2005.

Mr. Bovoro has been in the development banking service for more than 30 years now, having worked years with the Fiji Development Bank, with the Colonial National Bank in Fiji, the National Development Bank of Palau and, presently as the Chief Executive Officer of the Vanuatu Agriculture Development Bank.

In his acceptance note, he thanked the ADFIAP community for recognizing his achievements and vowed to continue working for sustainable development and help the Association toward this goal.

Honorary membership in ADFIAP is granted to individuals who have performed outstanding services in the field of development banking; those who have been closely connected with the profession of development banking; or those who have served the Association for many years.

ADFIAP member adopt the Muscat Declaration

ADFIAP members attending the18th Ordinary Meeting of the General Assembly of the Association held during the 32nd ADFIAP Annual Meetings in Muscat, Oman on April 29, 2009, have vowed to help stimulate their economies by coming up with strategic and creative responses and solutions to the deepening global economic crisis, as well as pursue sustainable investments. The regional cooperation agreement is contained in the “Muscat Declaration” which member-institutions of ADFIAP forged at the Omani capital of Muscat (please see box).

“MUSCAT DECLARATION”

(Agreed and subscribed to by the Delegates to the 32nd ADFIAP Annual Meetings held on
April 27 to 30, 2009 at the Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman)

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), the focal point of 100 development banks and financial institutions engaged in the financing of sustainable development in 40 countries and territories, recognizes that the Association and its members need, amidst the prevailing global crisis and beyond, to adapt and act expeditiously and conscientiously for their institutions and stakeholders’ future growth and sustainability the following declarations:

Declaration No. 1
Recognition of DFI’s Pivotal Role

RECOGNISING the pivotal role of development finance institutions (DFIs) as promoters of economic growth and enterprise development, especially as the current global crisis deepens and widens its scope, ADFIAP and its members will continue to come up with strategic responses and solutions that could help stimulate economies and hasten the pace of economic recovery in the Asia Pacific region, as well as explore and seize opportunities that will arise from the crisis.

Declaration No. 2
Pursuit of Sustainable Investments

COMMITTING to its objective of being leading institutions in the sustainable development space, especially in times of crises, ADFIAP and its members strive to continue to enhance their sustainable investment portfolio, as well as explore other related business opportunities, particularly to support the following sectors: micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), agriculture, housing and infrastructure, water and sanitation, health, education, environment and climate change, appropriate technology, trade logistics, and others.

Declaration No. 3
Strengthening of Operational Efficiency

MITIGATING the impact of the global crisis on their institutions as well as preparing beyond it, ADFIAP and its members aim to strengthen their operational efficiency in terms of risk management, information gathering and design of database, loan restructuring and non-performing loan management, capital adequacy, liability management as well as training and retooling their human capital and making full use of appropriate and effective information technology.

Declaration No. 4
Adherence to Good Governance Principles

ACKNOWLEDGING that the Association and its members’ mission of advancing sustainable development and inclusive growth can only be achieved with the collective action and adherence to good governance standards and best practices, ADFIAP and its members commit to support and sustain programs and initiatives that strengthen these governance standards and practices.

Declaration No. 5
Creation of a Sustainable Community of Members

COMMUNICATING the fact that ADFIAP exists because of its members, creating a sense of community among its members and stakeholders is the essential driver for its continued success. In this regard, ADFIAP has crafted a five-year strategic plan with a theme, “ADFIAP as Community: Inclusive, Involved, Innovative” to guide the Association to achieve its ideals and aspirations for the immediate future and have launched the “IamADFIAP” campaign to support this strategic direction.

Declaration No. 6
Creation of Innovative Solutions to Dynamic Challenges

REALISING that its members’ sustainability as development finance institutions is continuously challenged by the ever-changing dynamics of global as well as local developments, ADFIAP will be in constant search of fresh ideas, emerging trends and innovative solutions and to document, disseminate and share these issues to the general membership and its stakeholders. Organizing and conducting best practice exchanges among members, undertaking research and publishing studies as well as working with same-purposed institutions are among the measures that can be adopted going forward.

Declaration No. 7
Development of Research, Consulting and Capacity-Building Knowhow

CAPITALISING on its unique competency in research, training and institution-building in development work, particularly in sustainable finance, ADFIAP will develop further its Asia Pacific Institute of Development Finance as the knowledge hub on development finance. The Association will also develop its consulting and advisory services through the ADFIAP Consulting business unit; at the same time, reach out and support same-purposed institutions through its ADFIAP Responsible Citizenship centre as an outreach and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) unit. These initiatives are aimed to support the growing needs of a diverse membership and expanding international partnerships.

Adopted this 29th day of April 2009 in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

ADFIAP welcomes 3 new members, ups total to 103

The ADFIAP Board has approved, during its 69th Meeting in Muscat, Oman, the application of Palestine Mortgage & Housing Corporation, Johor Corporation (JCORP), and Global Coalition for Efficient Logistics (GCEL), upping the membership total to 103.

Palestine Mortgage & Housing Corporation (PMHC) was established in 1997 by an initiative from the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and a number of Palestinians and international economic institutions. PMHC is a leading mortgage firm, specialized in financing the housing sector in the region.

Johor Corporation (JCORP), www.jcorp.com.my, is a Malaysian state corporation, formerly known as the Johor State Economic Development Corporation (JSEDC). Formed in 1968, it is part of the Government’s affirmative action programs to restructure its multi-ethnic society by eradicating the economic imbalance between the Malays and the non-Malays. Malaysian state economic development corporations were designed to break away from the bureaucratic binds of a regular government department and to become a commercially-oriented investment arm of the respective state governments.

Global Coalition for Efficient Logistics (GCEL) is a non-profit Swiss-based public-private partnership which includes governments worldwide as well as some of the world’s most prominent financial, insurance and technology firms who are working together with a common goal to promote economic growth between developed and developing countries. It offers tangible programs that include “The Soft Infrastructure” that can help maximize trade efficiency by providing an efficient platform that will reduce cost of operation for logistics and trading.

11 Board Members reelected, ODB is new Board member

The General Assembly, during its 18th Ordinary Meeting held in Muskat, Oman, has reelected 11 of its 21-member Board for the term 2009-2012. It also elected the Oman Development Bank (ODB) as its newest Board member, bringing the total to 22. The ADFIAP Constitution allows for a maximum of 30 members of the Board for a wider representation of members in the Association’s affairs.

The 11 reelected members of Board are: Bhutan Development Finance Corporation Ltd., Rural Development Bank, China Development Bank, IDBI Bank Limited, Bank of Industry and Mine, Development Bank of Japan, Inc.,Credit Guarantee Corporation of Malaysia, Trade and Development Bank of Mongolia, Nepal Industrial Development Corporation, DFCC Bank and National Bank of Uzbekistan.

ODB will be represented in the Board by its Chairman Mr. Al Fadhal bin Mohammed Bin Ahmed Alharty. ODB’s membership in ADFIAP was approved during the 62nd Meeting of the ADFIAP Board in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2005 and has since been active in the activities of the association and has hosted the 32nd ADFIAP Annual Meetings in Muscat (please see separate story).

Board approves 2nd 5-year Strategic Plan

Building on the success of the 1st 5-year Strategic Plan (2005-2009) with the theme “More Focused and Prepared to Lead”, the ADFIAP Board, in its 69th meeting in Muscat, Oman last April 27, 2009, has approved the 2nd 5-year Strategic Plan (2010-2014), themed “ADFIAP as Community: Inclusive, Involved, Innovative”. ADFIAP believes that a strong, cohesive and unified approach to tackling future challenges of the Association is to use “community” as its strategy.

By using the sense of community among members as well as partners, ADFIAP feels that there will be a far greater rallying point for the Association to continue on with its avowed mission. For the call for community to work, there are at least three main elements that need to be considered – inclusion, involvement and innovation. Each element is further explained as follows:

Inclusion: means encouraging members to work in a cooperative, synergistic, and inclusive way. To practice inclusion is to maximize the resources of a diverse membership, leveraging the differences among them, and encouraging participation of all.
Involvement: provides the opportunity for members to participate around a worthwhile and common cause; a new thinking that improves understanding of what works; better practice that supports institutions and peoples; and networking which brings members together.
Innovation: means a new way of doing something. For innovation to occur, something more than the generation of a creative idea or insight is required – the insight must be put into action to make a genuine difference, resulting in new or altered business processes within the Association, or changes in the products and services that it provides.

In this context, the following five strategic directions or “SPARK” will boost the Association’s sustainability for the next five years:

Sustaining membership
Promoting advocacy
Advancing human capital development
Revving up resources
Keeping alliances

For more details about the 2nd Strategic Plan, please visit the ADFIAP Website at www.adfiap.org/goverance.php

ADFIAP Consulting now ready to serve

ADFIAP Consulting, the advisory business unit of the Association, is now fully operational with the signing of a collaborative agreement with JGCC Consulting, a Philippine-based company that has a strategic fit with the aspirations and advocacies of ADFIAP and its consulting unit.

ADFIAP Consulting’s vision is to be the preferred project adviser and manager, capacity builder and advocate on sustainable development financing in Asia and the Pacific. Its mission is to enhance the capacity and sustainability of its clients through its extensive development work experience and strategic alliances.

ADFIAP Consulting provides a team approach in its engagements whereby support shall be provided by consultants to ensure client satisfaction and project performance. The three-pronged approach – vision/mission, shared values and discriminating competencies – are intertwined in this approach.

ADFIAP Consulting builds capacities of development finance institutions (DFIs) and their clients to attain sustainable growth; renders training and consultancy services on institution-building, especially to DFIs and same-purposed institutions involved in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); develops expertise by using various interventions in the lending process to improve margins for profitability and sustainability; and formulates programs that support the realization of mandates of DFIs, thereby improving operations.

ADFIAP Consulting’s roster of consultants consists of practitioners with a total of 480 man-years of work experience in the field of development and commercial banking, MSME development, environmental and sustainability reporting and management, corporate governance and social responsibility, organizational development and management, training and human capital development and related sustainable development areas covering the Asia-Pacific region.

For more details about the ADFIAP Consulting, please email the Secretariat at inquiries@adfiap.org

DFI's to help stimulate region amidst global crisis

Development banks and financial institutions in the Asia-Pacific region vowed to help stimulate their economies by coming up with strategic and creative responses and solutions to the deepening global economic crisis, as well as pursue sustainable investments.

The regional cooperation agreement is contained in the “Muscat Declaration” which member-institutions of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) forged at the 32nd ADFIAP Annual Meetings in Muscat, Oman on April 29, 2009. ADFIAP serves as the focal point of 100 development banks and financial institutions engaged in the financing of sustainable development in 40 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region.

The “Muscat Declaration” recognizes “the pivotal role of development finance institutions (DFIs) as promoters of economic growth, especially as the current global crisis deepens and widens its scope.” It further states that “ADFIAP and its members will continue to come up with strategic responses and solutions that could help stimulate economies and hasten the pace of economic recovery in the Asia Pacific region, as well as explore and seize opportunities that will arise from the crisis.”

“By the very nature of their mandate, DFIs are in a better position to help their governments carry out programs under economic stimulus packages and other solutions to mitigate the adverse effects of the crisis,” said Octavio B. Peralta, ADFIAP Secretary General.

An example is the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), a long-time ADFIAP member-institution, which has notched up record loan disbursements to help India’s 30 million micro, small and medium enterprises cope with the global crisis.

“For the first time in history, our Central Bank extended a (credit) line to all our development banks at low rates to relend to mSMEs,” said Rajender Mohan Malla, Chairman and Managing Director of SIDBI, which also created an asset reconstruction company to spur investments in the distressed assets market.

Apart from mSMEs, ADFIAP’s member-DFIs also vowed to pursue sustainable investments in agriculture, housing and infrastructure, water and sanitation, health, education, environment and climate change, appropriate technology, trade logistics, and others. They also committed to strengthen their operational efficiency and adherence to good corporate governance principles.

ADFIAP also unveiled a five-year strategic plan that aims to build a stronger and closer community of DFIs and launched the “iamadfiap” campaign to support this strategic direction. Consistent with its mandate as a focal point in the region, the Association will also intensify the sharing of innovative solutions and document, disseminate and share these issues with its members and other stakeholders.

ADFIAP also plans to position its Asia Pacific Institute of Development Finance as the “knowledge hub on development finance,” develop consulting and advisory services through the ADFIAP Consulting business unit, and reach out to other stakeholders through its ADFIAP Responsible Citizenship center. These initiatives are aimed to support the growing needs of its diverse membership and expanding international partnerships.

Best DFIs in Asia Pacific named

A development bank that brought the world’s first loans where borrowers are rated based on their environmental impact. A bank that invests in the construction of a waste recycling complex that spurs small enterprise development. A successful microcredit scheme that transforms women in rural villages into active entrepreneurs. These are some of the programs that won recognition at the 2009 Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) Awards held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman on April 28, 2009.

The Awards, held on the sidelines of the 32nd ADFIAP Annual Meetings, recognized outstanding individuals and ADFIAP member-institutions for their contribution in social, economic and environmental development as well as good governance practices in their respective countries. ADFIAP’s membership includes 100 member-institutions in 40 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The ADFIAP Awards also paid tribute to individuals who made a mark in their respective fields. Receiving this year’s much-coveted "Outstanding CEO Award" was Shri Rajender Mohan Malla, Chairman and Managing Director of the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for his achievement in spurring the development of micro, small and medium enterprises in his country. With his constant policy advocacy, the Indian government has provided more than US$2 billion to SIDBI for on-lending assistance to MSMEs. The development bank also brought home two trophies for winning in the SME development category and the special award for best website. Meanwhile, named "Distinguished Person of the Year" was Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting, Chairman of Planters Development Bank based in the Philippines and former ADFIAP Chairman.

The following were the outstanding DFIs cited in various categories:

Environmental Development: Development Bank of Japan for coming up with the world’s first environmental due diligence program; and a special merit award for Bank Keshavarzi for its "Tooba Plan" project;
SME Development: SIDBI, for its Enterprise Management Development Services project; and a special merit award to the Philippine Export-Import Credit Agency for its wholesale direct lending program;
Infrastructure Development: Development Bank of Kazakhstan for its investment in the construction of a Waste Recycling Complex; and a merit award for Bank of Industry and Mine for financing the construction of mega infrastructure projects in Iran;
Technology Development: DFCC Bank of Sri Lanka for its "VS Turbo Limited Turbine Manufacturing Project";
Trade Development: Export-Import Bank of India for its Overseas Investment Finance program;
Local Economic Development: Rural Development Bank of Cambodia for its integrated approach to promote a strategic commodity;
Development Finance-Led Poverty Alleviation: Development Bank of Samoa for its micro credit assistance to women groups; and
Corporate Social Responsibility: Development Bank of the Philippines for its Endowment for Education Program.

Special Awards

First Payor Award: IDBI Bank Limited (India);
Top Member Recruiter: Oman Development Bank;
Best Annual Report: Development Bank of Kazakhstan;
Best Website: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

DFIs seen playing bigger roles in global crisis

MUSCAT, Oman, April 27, 2009 – Development finance institutions (DFIs) are assuming greater roles in helping economies cope with the global economic crisis as governments roll out stimulus packages.

"This poses both challenges and opportunities for DFIs in the Asia-Pacific region, where these institutions are mostly state-owned," said Octavio B. Peralta, Secretary General of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP).

Nearly a hundred delegates from ADFIAP’s member-institutions and other regional and international organizations will tackle their responses to the global economic crisis at the 32nd ADFIAP Annual Meetings in Muscat, Oman on April 27-30, 2009. The theme for this year’s meeting, "Financing Development Amidst the Global Crisis: DFIs Responses, Challenges and Opportunities," is considered very timely in light of the conditions currently underpinning the global economic system. ADFIAP serves as the focal point of all development banks and other financial institutions engaged in the financing of sustainable development in Asia Pacific.

At an April 27 press conference with the Omani media, Fuimaono Falefa Lima, ADFIAP Chairman and General Manager of the Development Bank of Samoa, said the 32nd ADFIAP Annual Meetings comes at a "more opportune and relevant time" as DFIs craft strategies to effectively respond to the global economic crisis, meet the challenges it poses, and exploit the opportunities it presents.

Samir Saied, General Manager of Oman Development Bank (ODB), an ADFIAP member-institution and this year’s conference host, said the bank is "prepared to keep its level of lending" and "do its part in contributing to the diversification of the Oman economy." ODB has been financing start-up and expansion projects at state subsidized rates to help the Oman government. The bank is also launching new working capital finance products, including those for the SMEs and the agricultural sector, to help sectors cope with the crisis.

Other member-institutions of ADFIAP, which has a network that spans 40 countries and territories, are also involved in providing liquidity to various industries. Mr. Peralta cited the case of the Development Bank of Japan which has been mandated by the Japan government to inject fresh liquidity to exporting companies hardly hit by the crisis. Through this type of involvement, ADFIAP member-institutions are also aiding in rebuilding confidence in regional economies, he added.

ADFIAP Participates in Financial Inclusion Forum

On invitation of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), ADFIAP represented by its Secretary General, Mr. Octavio B. Peralta, attended an international workshop on "Promoting Financial Inclusion through Innovative Policies" from March 31 to April 3 at the ADB Institute in Tokyo.

84 participants from 33 countries participated in the event jointly organized by the Advisory Group on APEC Financial System Capacity-Building, ABAC, the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) and in collaboration with the Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

The workshop provided a venue for a peer-to-peer learning and knowledge-sharing platform for policy makers, regulators, key experts and private sector leaders to stimulate further dissemination and development of innovative policies for an enabling environment for financial inclusion, particularly through microfinance. The workshop was also meant to form a basis for the design of a policy initiative on financial inclusion that will be proposed to the APEC finance ministers. The results of the workshop will be published in a report and distributed to relevant officials, particularly APEC finance ministers and senior finance officials as well as to regulators and influential private sector organizations in the Asia-Pacific region.

The workshop focused on six key policy solutions identified by AFI andadopted by ABAC and the Advisory Group on APEC Financial System Capacity-Building. The six solutions relate to: (1) agent banking (2) mobile phone banking (3) diversification of savings and insurance providers (4) the reform of public banks, (5) financial identity development for low-income clients and (6) consumer protection in financial services. These solutions have proven to be successful in increasing access to financial services in a number of economies, including some APEC member-economies such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

As a side event of the forum, ADFIAP was also invited to an informal brainstorming session on a possible APEC financial inclusion initiative. The small group closed-door meeting involved representatives from key institutions that are willing to provide financial and technical support for an APEC financial inclusion initiative as well as senior officials interested in collaborating with ABAC on this initiative. These institutions included AFI (the GTZ/Gates Foundation project), the ADB Institute, IFC, Inter-American Development Bank and FDC.

ADFIAP holds 32nd Annual Meetings in Muscat

A hundred delegates from members, partner organizations and invited institutions convene in Muscat, Oman on April 27-30, 2009 for the 32nd ADFIAP Annual Meetings hosted by the Oman Development Bank (ODB), with the theme "Financing Development Amidst the Global Crisis: DFIs Responses, Challenges and Opportunities."

The highlights of the event include the 18th Ordinary Meeting of the General Assembly; the Conference proper; the 69th Board of Directors' Meeting; the Welcome Reception and Awards Night; Delegates-Meets-Delegates Networking Session; Shared Interest Group Meetings and the Fellowship Day.

For the conference proper, four "talk show-styled" executive sessions by ADFIAP member-CEOs and senior officers are slated to discuss and dissect the impact of the global financial crisis in various countries where ADFIAP has members and the actions they have taken to cushion the effect of the crisis as well as share opportunities tapped in relation to the crisis.

Gracing the event will be a high ranking government official of the Sultanate of Oman, ODB President, Mr. Sh. Alfadhal bin Mohammed Al Harty, and ADFIAP Chairman, Mr. Fuimaono Falefa Lima.

For more details on the event, please visit its website at http://www.adfiap.org/32nd

ADFIAP attends Regional Forum on Social Enterprises

Nine ADFIAP members from Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines participated in a regional workshop on Social Finance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) organized by the Coalition of Responsible SMEs in Asia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from March 10-13, 2009.

The 3-day event brought together development bankers, researchers, advocates, and operators of responsible, plural and solidarity-based enterprises (RPSEs), more popularly known as "social enterprises" to review the conceptual framework and implementing guidelines of a regional cooperation program called "Asia Pacific Solidarity Invest Program" (APSIP) that promotes greater outreach of financing institutions to social enterprises.

During the process of reviewing APSIP, the workshop provided the participants with an opportunity to share information and experience on their respective financing programs for social enterprises and the indicators they use to monitor the performance of these enterprises.

The event resulted in the establishment of a multi-stakeholder task force comprising of DFIs, RPSE operators, researchers, and advocates that collectively agreed to promote information exchange and experience sharing on the outreach of financial institution to RPSEs, the criteria used to assess RPSE eligibility to access credit from formal sources, the contributions to RPSE development by various stakeholders, and the appropriate indicators for monitoring RPSE performance.

Ms. Sandra C. Hondrado, Senior Executive for Programs, attended the forum for the ADFIAP Secretariat.

ADFIAP launches 3 new member services

ADFIAP has launched three new services for its members, namely the ADFIAP e-Library, the ADFIAP Consulting and the ADFIAP Responsible Citizenship (ARC) Institute.

Members can soon download more than 400 articles, speeches and other reference materials from the ADFIAP website though the ADFIAP e-Library homepage. This 24X7 facility is a repository of valuable resources on development banking and related topics compiled over three decades of existence of ADFIAP. The collection documents the writings and presentations of ADFIAP members about their development work and achievements, their successes as well as their failures. It covers the experience of ADFIAP members in as many as 40 countries in a very diverse and dynamic Asia-Pacific region that spans from inception of most development banks in the 70's to the present. The mission of the ADFIAP e-Library is to share this wealth of priceless experiences to as broad a readership as possible and be part of the collective body of knowledge in an ever evolving development banking field.

To leverage on the experience, expertise and network of ADFIAP, the Association has set up ADFIAP Consulting to provide advisory and business development services to ADFIAP members and other institutions in Asia and the Pacific in their pursuit of sustainable growth and development. It advances the Association's commitment to achieve significant and lasting improvements in the lives of the people in the region by working on and advocating for projects that are socially-beneficial, environmentally-responsible and economically-viable, by leveraging the Association's experience and network, and by partnering with like-minded institutions. ADFIAP Consulting envisions to be a leading project adviser and manager, capacity builder and advocate on sustainable development financing in Asia and the Pacific.

The Association has also set up the ADFIAP Responsible Citizenship (ARC) Institute to further strengthen its sustainable development advocacy. In effect, the ARC Institute will be ADFIAP's outreach and CSR unit to promote its environment, social and governance initiatives. As such, the ARC Institute will engage and partner with same-purposed organizations around the world to undertake research and capacity-building projects focused on sustainability issues, including climate change, sustainable consumption and production and sustainability reporting.

"iamadfiap" branding campaign on

In its desire to enhance the "ADFIAP brand asset", to create membership loyalty, and to make ADFIAP "top of mind", the Association is running a year-round campaign to be called, "iamadfiap".

In communicating the "iamadfiap" campaign to members, several activities and products are lined up: (a) campaign brand awareness through logo design, logo applications (letterheads, publications, etc.), merchandizing (polo shirts for events, pins for formal events, sports caps, etc.) and online exposure in members' websites (b) iamadfiap "ambassadors" by rallying members to promote the brand via special citations in the ADFIAP Awards and by circulating a booklet on MBA (Manual for Brand Ambassadors) to guide members to promote ADFIAP in their respective institutions and countries (c) iamadfiap one-minute video to drumbeat the campaign and be used in membership recruitment and retention programs and (d) iamadfiap online community to provide a venue for members to be 'connected' in the Internet and will include the iamadfiap story of members, downloadable iamadfiap campaign collaterals, e.g., logo, MBA, membership application form, welcome kit, discussion forum (moderated topics), latest news on ADFIAP, members online survey, e-Store for merchandising of iamadfiap and many more.

ADFIAP Speaks at International EcoForum

ADFIAP, represented by its Secretary General, Mr. Octavio B. Peralta, spoke and highlighted ADFIAP and its members’ role and contributions on environmental financing in Asia and the Pacific before 300 delegates at the International Conference on "Sustainable Consumption, Sustainable Production, Sustainable Future", a parallel forum of the "5th EcoProducts International Fair (EPIF)" organized by the Asian Productivity Organization, the Development Academy of the Philippines and the Philippines Business for the Environment from March 19-21, 2009 at the SMX Convention Center in Manila.

Sharing the panel with Mr. Peralta on the theme, "Environmental Finance and Markets Evaluating Non-financial Factors in the Region" were Mr. Eiichiro Adachi, Research Chief and Head of ESG Research Center of the Japan Research Institute Ltd.; Dr. Niven C.C. Huang, Secretary General of the Business Council for Sustainable Development of Taiwan; Dr. Chaiyod Bunyagidj, Vice President of the Thailand Environment Institute; and Ms. Maria Fatima Reyes and Ms. Estrella Saman-Andres, Principal and Associate, respectively, of Strategics Asia.

The 3-day forum also featured topics on eco-innovation, eco-business, green procurement, eco-solutions and other applications. The EPIF is one of the largest international environmental exhibitions in Asia which showcases the most advanced environment-friendly technologies, products and services that enhance sustainable productivity and competitiveness and provides opportunities to explore business collaborations as well as promote public awareness on environment-friendly products and services.

ADFIAP Secretariat offsets its CO2 emission

True to the Association’s advocacy in helping mitigate climate change, the ADFIAP Secretariat has purchased 22 certified emission reduction units (CERs) that were issued for the Indian Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project Switching of Fuel from Naphtha to Natural Gas at United Phosphorus Limited (CDM Project No. 437). The CERs have been obtained by the Secretariat to offset 22 tonnes of carbon emissions that it incurred in 2008 through electricity usage in its offices and from business travel of its officers and staff.

The Secretariat chose to buy offsets from an existing project and from a batch of issued CERs rather than to contribute to a general portfolio fund for investment in future projects so it could be sure that the project and the emission reductions achieved have both been through rigorous approval processes. As the CERs were kept in a CDM registry, it could also be certain that they would be retired upon purchase.

The project, United Phosphorus Limited (UPL), primarily aims at reducing GHG gas emission through switching naphtha as a fuel to natural gas as a fuel for their power plant as well as at bringing social (employment, health and labor conditions), environmental (air quality) and economic benefits, thus contributing to sustainable development objectives of the country. The project has been validated and verified in accordance with the CDM as defined by the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is an arrangement under the Kyoto Protocol allowing industrialized countries with a greenhouse gas reduction commitment (called Annex B countries) to invest in projects that reduce emissions in developing countries. The CDM allows net global greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced at a much lower global cost by financing emissions reduction projects in developing countries where costs are lower than in industrialized countries.

ADFIAP, USAID’s ECO-Asia hold Water Finance Forum in Manila

About 70 development bankers, small scale water service providers, cooperatives and NGOs gathered for a 2-day forum in Manila on January 29 and 30, 2009 to hammer out a strategy for mobilizing funds to develop drinking water and sanitation facilities in undeserved or unserved rural and urban poor areas in Asia. Twenty participants, from ADFIAP member-DFIs that signified interest in water financing through a survey conducted earlier by the Association, attended in the forum. These were DFIs from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The forum, a collaborative effort of ADFIAP and USAID’s Environmental Cooperation-Asia (Eco-Asia), was conducted to address the problem of lack of financing that continue to hamper water service providing to poor rural and urban consumers. One of the major results of the event was the development of a program lending scheme that put together three Philippine organizations, namely, the Peoples Credit Finance Corporation (PCFC), the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP), to work with each other in providing water financing to the sector. Under the scheme, PCFC will provide the wholesale funding through accredited rural banks in the country that will in turn provide direct lending to qualified small scale water providers. LWUA will make available its technical expertise and capacity-building programs to both PCFC and RBAP. These institutions signed a tripartite memorandum of agreement during the forum. It is envisioned that this financing "model" can be replicated in other countries in the region.

Gracing the opening ceremony of the forum were the Philippine’s Department of Finance Undersecretary Jeremias N. Paul, Jr., Office of Energy & Environment of the USAID’s Philippine Office, Mr. Daniel Moore, Regional Advisor for Environmental Health of the World Health Organization, Western Pacific Region, Mr. Terrence Thompson, and Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting, Chairman and CEO of Planters Development Bank and ADFIAP Director-Treasurer.

For more details of the event and the water finance project, please visit the ECO-Asia website at http://usaid.eco-asia.org/ and the ADFIAP website at http://www.adfiap.org

ADFIAP speaks at UNESCAP, Sida Climate Change Forum

ADFIAP, on the invitation by the U.N.’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), spoke at the international conference on “Climate Game Change: Innovations and Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation” held at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand on January 22, 2009. About 300 delegates attended the event.

The conference, aimed at high-level representatives of private and public companies, financial institutions, government, international organizations and civil society in Asia and the Pacific, forms part of the Asia-Pacific Business Forum, Green Growth and Sida Development Area series of meetings. The results of the event will be used as inputs into the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.

ADFIAP, represented by its Secretary General, Mr. Octavio B. Peralta, was part of the Executive Panel 1 which tackled the theme, “Pioneers of the New Market” that discussed new innovative market mechanisms which the finance sector and governments are currently mobilizing to meet the climate challenge. Mr. Peralta elaborated on ADFIAP’s environmental governance project that provided its member-DFIs with tools on environmental management system and environmental risk management for internally “greening” their office operations and lending process, respectively. He also provided case studies of member-banks’ environmental finance projects. For more details on ADFIAP’s “greenbanking” project, please visit its website at http://www.egs-asia.com/

Mr. Peralta’s co-panelists included Mr. Rae Kwon Chung, Climate Change Ambassador of the Republic of Korea; Mr. James Gifford, Executive Director of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and Ms. Teresa Au, Head of Corporate Sustainability Asia Pacific Region of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC). Ms. Veronica Pedrosa, a well-known news presenter and anchor of Al Jazeera English, acted as moderator for the panel.

ESCAP’s Executive Secretary and UN Under-Secretary-General Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Mdm. Angela Cropper, Sida’s Director-General, Dr. Anders Nordström, and Special Adviser on Climate Change to Sweden’s Prime Minister, Dr. Lars-Erik Liljelund welcomed the delegates of the forum.

For more details of the conference, please visit ESCAP’s website at http://www.unescap.org/ as well as Sida’s at http://www.sida.se

ADFIAP provides technical assistance to ADFIP

Covered under the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between ADFIAP and ADFIP, the ADFIAP Secretariat in Manila provided a 5-day technical assistance program on association management and leadership for ADFIP’s Executive Director, Ms. Amelia Baro, from January 12-16, 2009. The program included orientation and familiarization on ADFIAP’s history, programs, projects and various activities as well as observation of the ADFIAP Secretariat’s operations and business units. Ms. Baro’s visit was also timed for her to observe the Secretariat’s annual business planning meeting held on January 13, 2009 (please see related story).

One of ADFIAP’s strategic directions is to work with regional, subregional and national DFI associations. The MoC between ADFIAP and ADFIP was signed on Many 11, 2005 during ADFIAP’s 28th Annual Meetings held in Nadi, Fiji to further strengthen both Association’s business and development objectives.

The Association of Development Financing Institutions in the Pacific (ADFIP) was established in 1986 to promote the interest of all members, to advance cooperation and to establish a machinery for the systematic exchange of information among members. It also aims to carry out studies on commonly experienced problems and training of staff thereby improving the expertise and effectiveness of member-DFIs.

IDF grants Credentials to New Set of Members’ Officers

ADFIAP’s Institute of Development Finance (IDF) ran the Development Bank Management Program, its Level 2 credentialing program, from December 1-12, 2008 and granted the credential of Affiliate in Development Bank Management to eight (8) successful members’ officers from Fiji, India and the Philippines. This brings to 37 the total number of members’ officers currently with Level 2 credentials.

This two-week program is aimed at enhancing the managerial capabilities of DFI officers in development bank management. Module 1 of the program covers "Bank Operation Management and Financial Management" which includes topics on financial management system, treasury and risk management, credit analysis for long-term investment projects, loan management, and performance management. Module 2 includes "General Management and Management of People" which covers Asian culture in management, analytical tools for problem solving, decision-making and risk management, improving communications and critical aspects of human resources management and training.

Aside from classroom discussions, the participants had an opportunity to visit and observe firsthand the operations of the Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, Planters Development Bank, and the Philippine Export-Import Credit Agency, four of the largest development financial institutions in the country.

Dr. Alberto P. Peña, Professor and Associate Director of the Office of International Studies and Programs, Illinois State University, U. S. A was the main resource person of the program.

Mr. Orlando P. Peña, President of the Asia Business Consulting, covered the 2-day general management module.

CEOs share insights, best practices in KL Forum

Around 100 CEOs and senior officers from ADFIAP and ADFIM members, international partners and affiliates gathered for the 5th edition of the Association’s Annual International CEO Forum to share their insights and best practices at the Hotel Istana in Kuala Lumpur on November 24-26, 2008. The event with the timely theme, The Role of DFIs under Today’s Challenging Economic Environment - "Enhancing Efficiency and Productivity" was hosted by the Association of Development Finance Institutions of Malaysia (ADFIM).

The brief opening ceremony was graced by the Chairman of ADFIM and CEO of Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad, Ybhg. Datuk Mohd Nasir Ahmad, ADFIAP Chairman and General Manager of the Development Bank of Samoa, Mr. Fuimaono Falefa Lima, and YBhg Dato’ Siti Hadzar binti Mohd Ismail, Advisor to the Ministry of Finance, Government of Malaysia.

There were five technical sessions all in all: Session 1 covered the topic, Present Roles of DFIs under Today’s Challenging Economic Environment and featured the presentations of Ybhg Datuk Muhammad bin Ibrahim, Assistant Governor, Central Bank of Malaysia, on the role and perspective of Bank Negara Malaysia; Mme. Rokiah Rajak, Vice President II, SME Bank, on SME promotion and financing in Malaysia; and Ybhg Datuk Abdul Rahim Hassan, Managing Director, TEKUN Nasional, on microenterprise financing and entrepreneurship development.

The topic of "Human Capital Development: Issues and Trends" were presented in Session 2 by Mr. Orlando P. Peña, President, Asia Business Consultants, Inc (Philippines) and Ms. Shahuren Ismail of the Malaysian Productivity Centre (MPC).

Session 3 covered the topic, "DFIs: Moving up the Value Chain" with speakers Mr. R. Raghuttama Rao, Managing Director, IRCA Management Consulting Services, Ltd (India), who talked about "Managing Risks in DFIs"; Mr. Jung-Kyoo Yang, President & Chief Executive Officer, AJU IB Investment Company (Korea) who expounded on the topic, "Development Financing and Technology Development; and Ybhg. Dato’ Tajuddin Atan, Group Managing Director and CEO, Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad, who discussed the "Role of Government".

Session 4 tackled the topic, "Managing DFI Asset and Liability Portfolio" and those who presented their insights were Shri Yogesh Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director, IDBI Bank Ltd, who talked on "Financing of DFI Assets"; Mr. Francisco Magsajo, Jr., President, Philippine, Export-Import Credit Agency on "Funding Strategies for DFIs"; and Mr. Kamal Batcha Dawood, President of G2E Sdn Berhad, on "Non-Performing Loan Management".

Session 5 featured "Business Issues and Trends" and speakers were: Mr. Rey Guarin, CDM Business Development, TFS Green, on "Unlocking the Value of CERs to Enhance Investment Viability; Mr. Jay Yu Tecson, Water and Sanitation Specialist, USAID Environmental Cooperation-Asia Program, on "Regional Water Financing Strategy for DFIs in Asia"; and Dr. Nitus Patrayotin, President, Agriculture Futures Exchange of Thailand, on "Agricultural Futures Exchange".

Presentation details will be made available in this ADFIAP website soon.

Milestone: ADFIAP grows to 100 members in 40 countries

With the approval of the ADFIAP Board in its meeting in Kuala Lumpur on November 24, 2008 of the application of eight (8) new members in seven (7) countries, the Association’s membership has expanded to 100 members in 40 countries, an all time high. ADFIAP welcomes the following additional members:

Public Development Bank, Limited, www.pdbankltd.com based in Birgunj, Nepal, started its operation on June 7, 2007 with an authorized capital of Rs. 200 million, issued capital of Rs.100 million and paid-up capital of Rs. 45 million. The Bank is doing almost all types of commercial banking activities and does additional functions not allowed to commercial banks like land development, housing, and other related development projects.

Philippine Postal Savings Bank, Inc., www.postalbank.gov.ph, based in Manila, was created as a division of the Bureau of Posts by the passage of the Act Number 1493 in May 24, 1906. The Bank tapped and mobilized savings by bringing banking services to rural areas of the country until such time that the private banking sector grew rapidly in the 1960s that affected its operations which resulted to its eventual closure. In July 1994, the Bank under its new name, Philippine Postal Savings Bank, Inc, was re-opened as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Philpost with its own separate funds, books of accounts, and set of accountable officers and employees.

Oman Housing Bank, www.ohb.co.om, was established on July 11, 1977 as Omani stock company by the Royal Decree No. 51/77, with capital of RO. 10 million, as successor of Oman National Housing Development Company, a company involved in housing financing in Oman since 1974.

International Financial Consulting, Ltd., www.i-financialconsulting.com based in Ottawa, Canada, is a leading international consulting firm specializing in financial services supporting trade, investment and development. These include trade and project finance, export credit and political risk insurance, and SME Finance, with a focus on institutions and program development.

Pacific Islands Development Bank (PIDB), www.pacificidb.com, based in Guam, was established on July 5, 1989 as a regional development finance institution to assist member-countries in accelerating their economic and social development through its lending and other programs. The Bank presently covers the Island of Guam, Republic of Palau, the FSM States of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Antigua and Barbuda Development Bank (ABDB) was established in 1971 as statutory development finance institution and commenced operations in 1974. In over 34 years of operation, ABDB has made cumulative disbursement of over US$40.7 million representing loans to various economic sectors. The Bank is a seasoned vehicle for channeling resources from regional and international institutions such as the Carribean Development Bank, European Community through the EDF and the EIB.

Vanuatu Agriculture Development Bank was set up in accordance with the Vanuatu Agriculture Development Bank Act No. 20 of 2006 to develop the natural resources of Vanuatu, especially in the areas of agriculture, forestry, fishery, tourism and manufacturing.

Local Water Utilities Adminstration, www.lwua.gov.ph, based in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, was established as a government corporation in May 1973 under the Provincial Water Utilities Act (Presidential Decree No. 198) to be a specialized lending institution for the promotion, development and financing of local water ulitities in the country.

IDF breaks ground with key performance indicators workshop for DFIs

Ten (10) officers from member-banks in Fiji, India and the Philippines who have successfully completed the "Core Development Banking Program" (CoreDev) were granted the credential, Associate in Development Banking, by ADFIAP’s Institute of Development Finance (IDF). The program was held from November 24-28, 2008 at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Training Centre in Makati City, Philippines. This brings to a total of 65 officers from member-banks that have been granted this credential since 2004.

CoreDev, which is Level 1 of IDF’s credentialing program, consists of two modules. The first module on "Principles and Practices of Development Banking," provides the participants with pertinent knowledge and skills on the operational policies and workings of development banking. It also deals with the economic, social and governance aspects of development finance, including important guidelines on long-term project finance.

The second module on "Design and Appraisal of Development Projects: provides the participants with the different aspects of project investment design and how the financial and economic aspects fit into the overall investment plan submitted by a loan client. In addition, the module includes appraisal techniques that distinguish between purely private-oriented investments and development projects.

Aside from in-depth classroom discussions, the participants had an opportunity to observe firsthand the operations of Land Bank of the Philippines, one of the pre-eminent state-owned development finance institutions in the country.

The main resource person of the program was Dr. Alberto Peña, Professor and Associate Director of the Office of International Studies and Programs, at the Illinois State University in the U.S.A.

Level 2 of the IDF credentialing program is completion of the Development Bank Management Program (DevMan) that provides successful participants with the credential, Affiliate in Development Banking. For those interested on the credentialing programs, please email Ms. Sandra C. Honrado at shonrado@adfiap.org

IDF breaks ground with key performance indicators workshop for DFIs

ADFIAP’s Asia-Pacific Institute of Development Finance (IDF) held its first ever international seminar-workshop on "Key Performance Indicators for DFIs" from November 17-21, 2008 at the AIM Center in Makati City, Metro Manila. 17 participants from the Philippines, Malaysia, South Africa, American Samoa, Antigua & Barbuda, India, Federated States of Micronesia and Bangladesh attended the workshop.

This ground-breaking program reviewed the role of DFIs in the national development agenda under the frameworks of Basel II, OECD Code of Good Governance and Global Reporting Initiative. The program also identified the accountability of the DFI to national development targets and for resources entrusted to it to accomplish its mandate.

While DFIs’ performance indicators vary across countries, the seminar showed that a common set of KPIs can be used to report DFIs’ contribution to the country’s development goals. These indicators include dimensions of governance, policy mandate, financial efficiency, environmental and social impacts.

In addition, the seminar explored in more depth certain KPIs for DFIs that serve the small and medium enterprise (SME) market. SME banks have been recently established in a number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The main resource persons of the workshop were Dr. Cesar Saldana and Ms. Fatima Reyes. For more details on the program, please contact Ms. Sandra Honrado, Senior Executive, Programs at shonrado@adfiap.org

ADFIAP and ADBEC to cooperate on development activities

Two Commercial Banking Groups Invite ADFIAP

ADFIAP and the Association of Development Banks of the Eastern Caribbean (ADBEC) signed on November 19, 2008 a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) pursuing their common vision that development financing is key to sustainable development.

Among potential joint collaborative activities, ADFIAP and ADBEC hopes to co-organize conferences and symposia on sustainable development issues such as, but not limited to, micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) finance, environmental banking, social finance, corporate governance and responsible citizenship; develop and promote training, capacity-building and credentialing programs to enhance the professional and institutional capability of its member-banks and other financial institutions that share the same development objectives; organize exchange missions for their members to encourage strategic alliances and business networking among themselves and their clients; and explore other areas of cooperation such as information exchange, publications, research and studies and other relevant endeavors.

Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting, Chairman & CEO of Planters Development Bank (PDB) and ADFIAP Director-Treasurer and Mr. Donald O. Charles, CEO of Antigua & Barbuda Development Bank and ADBEC Chairman signed the agreement for their respective institutions. Mr. Charles was in Manila where he attended the IDF’s international seminar-workshop on KPIs for DFIs (see related story). The event, which took place at the PDB Headquarters in Makati City, Philippines, was witnessed by Mr. Octavio B. Peralta and Mr. Isidro A. Sobrecarey, Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General, respectively and Mr. Victor C. Abainza, Executive Director of PDB-FMO Center.

Study tour program on SME financing for Malaysian banks held

ADFIAP’s Institute of Development Finance (IDF), in cooperation with the premier small and medium enterprise (SME) bank in the Philippines, Planters Development Bank (PDB), conducted a 3-day study tour program on SME financing from November 3 to 5, 2008 for the SME Bank Malaysia and Bank Negara Malaysia. Six (6) bank executives, five from SME Bank and one from Bank Negara, participated in the program held at the PDB-FMO development training center.

The program exposed the participants to international best practices and methods as practiced by PDB as well as to various SME business models that the Bank uses. The program also focused on loan processing and monitoring systems to ensure timely loan approval and disbursement and, at the same time, maintaining a healthy loan portfolio.

PDB experts and senior officers were at hand to handle the sessions. Ms. Alegria Obien, Training Director, covered the topics on "Credit Risk Management: A Framework for Small Business Lending", "Foundational Credit Principles & Application to Small Business Lending", "The Credit Cycle", and "Fundamentals of Credit Risks Assessment & Evaluation". Ms. Anne Rose T. Kwan, Senior Vice President and Head of Credit Support Group, handled "Organizing for SME Lending and Credit Scoring", and "Credit Scoring as a Tool for Small Business Lending. Mr. Remigio Tito Tirones, Vice President and Group Head, Small Business Lending Group) presented "Packaging a Small Business Loan". Ms. Elizabeth Umali, Senior Vice President and Head Special Accounts Management Department, covered "Early Problem Recognition & Remedial Management". Ms. Ma. Agnes Angeles, Senior Vice President and Head of SBL Department presented "Approaches to Relationship Management in SME Lending". Ms. Bernadette Ratcliffe covered the opening session on "Introduction to Planters Development Bank".

For more details of the program, please email Ms. Sandy Lim at sandylim@adfiap.org

ADFIAP Chairs Pacific DFI Roundtable Session

On invitation of the Asia-Pacific Association for Fiduciary Studies (APAFS), ADFIAP, represented by its Secretary General, Octavio B. Peralta, made a presentation on development banking in the region and chaired a roundtable session for Pacific DFIs during APAFS 8th Annual Pacific Region Investment Conference held on October 9-10, 2008 in Makati City, Philippines.

The conference focused on regional issues and needs of APAFS members in their role as fiduciaries. Over 200 delegates from public pension and retirement funds, private trusts, investment managers, investment consultants and other service providers to the industry attended the event.

The development banking roundtable was aimed at enhancing the knowledge of the audience on DFIs as they too have fiduciary functions as trustees of development funds. The session was participated in by five DFI and development agency chief executives who presented their national and institutional experiences, namely, Aren Palik of the Pacific Island Development Bank, Oscar Camacho of the Commonwealth Development Authority of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Anna Mendiola of the Federated States of Micronesia Development Bank, Frank Camacho of the Guam Economic Development & Commerce Authority and Kaleb Udui, Jr. of the National Development Bank of Palau.

APAFS http://www.apafs.org is a non-profit educational association with the aim of providing educational forums for fiduciaries in the region so that they can better exercise prudent stewardship of the funds entrusted to their care.

ADFIAP Speaks at 3rd Green Growth Forum

ADFIAP, through its Deputy Secretary General, Roy Sobrecarey, participated and spoke at the 3rd Policy Consultation Forum of the Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth: Green Growth and Sustainable Consumption and Production for Climate Action. Sponsored by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Forum was held in parallel with the 8th Asia-Pacific Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production. The event, attended by more than 200 local and foreign participants and experts, was held in Cebu, Philippines last September 18-20.

ADFIAP’s presentation was on "Regional Financing for Low Carbon Society" where Mr. Sobrecarey discussed the premises, concepts and conditions for Low Carbon Society to develop in a sustainable manner. He also presented the initiatives and advocacies of the ADFIAP in the areas of sustainable development. He likewise cited as case study highlights the programs of ADFIAP member banks in this area, particularly the "Forest: Greening The Countryside Project" of the Development Bank of the Philippines; "Financial + Advisory Services" of TMB Bank of Thailand; and, "Carbon Dioxide Reduction Loan" of the Development Bank of Japan.

The program was opened by Fidel V. Ramos, former President of the Philippines and ASEAN Eminent Person. Prince Willem Alexander, Prince of Orange and Crown Prince of The Netherlands, was the Keynote Speaker and cited the urgent need to conserve water by member-countries of the Asia-Pacific Region to help ease the risk of climate change.

In recognition of ADFIAP’s contribution to the Forum and as a follow up, ESCAP invited ADFIAP’s Secretary General Octavio B. Peralta to be a Speaker at the Business Forum, entitled "The Climate Game Change – Innovations and Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation". This event will be held on January 22, 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand and organized by ESCAP and the Swedish International Cooperation Agency (SIDA).The conference will focus on the role and opportunities for the private sector in climate change adaptation, and outline innovative solutions and strategies. It is aimed at high-level representatives of private and public companies, financial institutions, government, international organizations and civil society in Asia and the Pacific. It will form part of the Asia-Pacific Business Forum, Green Growth and SIDA Development Area series of meetings, and its results will be used as inputs into the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in 2009.

ADFIAP promotes and advances sustainable development through its members in the Asia-Pacific region.

Association Update : 9/08/2008 : Active

ADFIAP wins two international awards

For the first time ever, ADFIAP won two prestigious international awards from the Washington, D.C.-based American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) & the Center for Association Leadership for its two outstanding projects namely, the "DFIs for Corporate Governance" and the "Environmental Governance Standards (EGS) for DFIs". ADFIAP received the Associations Make A Better World Awards in San Diego, California on August 19, 2008 during the ASAE & The Center’s Annual Meeting & Expo held there attended by over 6,000 delegates. The two projects were cited for "truly embodying the spirit of the Associations Make a Better World campaign which seeks to recognize outstanding examples of associations that make significant contribution to societies and economies worldwide."

The five-phased corporate governance project, with funding support from the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), brought forth a wide participation of DFIs in the Asia-Pacific region in promoting and institutionalizing good corporate governance policies and practices in accordance to world-recognized conventions. The project started in 2002 with an awareness and orientation campaign on corporate governance issues (Phase 1) and then into developing a corporate governance "scorecard" for DFIs and other financial institutions (Phase II). It subsequently focused on expanding the role of the bank’s compliance officer to cover governance matters (Phase III) and then linking governance with sustainable development (Phase IV). In its final stage, the project tackled risk management within the framework of corporate governance (Phase V). A total of 27 training & capacity-building events have been held in various countries where ADFIAP has a member. In all 623 Board of Directors, CEOs and senior managers of over 100 member-banks, affiliates and partners, including non-member commercial banks and other financial institutions from 33 countries have benefited from the program. For more information on this project, please visit its website at http://www.governance-asia.com/

The completed two-year "green banking" project, on the other hand, was funded by a Euro 347, 446 grant from the European Commission’s EU-Asia Pro Eco Programme and was aimed at promoting good environmental governance policies and practices in DFIs. Among the other activities and achievements of the EGS project, two management tools, the Internal Environmental Management System (IEMS) and the Environmental Risk Scan (ERS) provide the "how-to’s" in "greening" the organization and its bottom line and in integrating environmental aspects in lending decisions, respectively. For this project, ADFIAP worked with the Germany’s UNEP/Wuppertal Institute Collaborating Center for Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP) and the UK’s University of Leeds and the University of St. Andrews. For more information on this project, please go to its website at http://www.egs-asia.com/

Founded in 1920, ASAE has more than 22,000 association CEOs, staff professionals, industry partners and consultant members. The Center, which was founded in 2001, is the premier provider of learning and knowledge for the association community. ASAE & The Center http://www.asaecenter.org/ serve more than 10,000 associations that represent more than 287 million people and organizations worldwide.

Association Update : 8/15/2008 : Active

USAID’s ECO-Asia, ADFIAP launch water finance project

The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Environmental Cooperation Asia (ECO-Asia) program is funding a regional water strategy with ADFIAP. The ECO-Asia-ADFIAP project will develop business models for banks and other financial institutions for the water sector in Asia.

While water is recognized to be a critical resource and sanitation a crucial concern, the supply of drinkable water and adequate sanitation facilities have been mainly limited to urban areas. Typically, the rural and urban poor areas in developing countries lack water and sanitation facilities. Filling this gap requires among other things, significant increases of public and private investments in the water sector.

USAID’s Eco-Asia program promotes regional environmental cooperation by demonstrating best practices & strengthening regional institutions and networks.

The one-year project’s activities will include research on existing lending facilities to the water sector, identification of information gaps and risks that deter lending to the water sector, and documentation of successful small water businesses in rural and urban poor areas in the region. The initial results of the study will then be presented in a Regional Water Financing Workshop to be held in Manila in November this year.

Association Update : 8/15/2008 : Active

IDF conducts 2nd PR workshop

ADFIAP's Asia-Pacific Institute of Development Finance (IDF) successfully held its second international workshop on Public Relations and the New Media entitled, "Bricks & Clicks" from August 4 to 7 at the AIM Conference Center in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The event drew 15 participants from India, Micronesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The four day-workshop covered a wide range of topics such as dealing with the media, designing PR campaigns, writing press releases, conducting press conferences, branding, organizing an internal PR, using online tools and marketing, photojournalism, and corporate social responsibility. Aside from classroom discussions and simulations, the participants made observation visits to the country's two biggest TV and radio networks as well as to its leading newspaper company.

The seminar featured the best of PR that merges traditional, offline ("bricks") practices with today's online ("clicks") realities, presented by seasoned PR practitioners, media and advertising experts as well as organizational development consultants, who shared their experience and expertise to the program.

The speakers and their seminar topics were veteran PR professional Max Edralin on PR 101; Emily Abrera, Chairman Emeritus of McCann-Erickson (branding); Ma. Salve Dulpito, Business editor of Inquirer.net (online tools); Donald Patrick Lim, President and CEO of Yehey! Corp (online marketing); investigative journalist Chit Estella (newsroom environment); Romeo Gacad, Chief Photographer of Agence France Presse (photojournalism); Bobby Manzano, Operations Smile Philippines (media relations); Bertrand Pesayco, Chairman and CEO Writers Edge Inc. (handling press conference); Efren Elane, OD and HR Consultant (Internal PR and Communications); Bobby Calingo, CSR Institute (CSR) and Sheila Samonte Pesayco, President Writers Edge (press release writing workshop, designing PR campaign).

Association Update : 8/15/2008 : Active

IDF holds sustainability reporting seminar in Manila

In line with ADFIAP’s advocacy on sustainable development, the Asia-Pacific Institute of Development Finance, ADFIAP’s professional training and career development center, held for the first time, on July 28 to August 1, 2008, the International Seminar-Workshop on Sustainability Reporting: Enhancing Corporate Brand and Reputation through Sustainability Performance Management Reporting, in Manila, Philippines. This event was participated in by 15 participants from Fiji, India, Korea and the Philippines representing development and commercial banks, private accounting practitioners, service company, multinational electronic company and an NGO.

Based on the Global Reporting Initiatives, the seminar was the first public course conducted in the Philippines. Corporate sustainability reporting is an increasing trend worldwide that is being fueled by the growing clamor from the investment company, civil society and stakeholders for companies to publish their report along the triple bottom lines of economic, environment and social performance. Other factors driving sustainability reporting, which were among the issues taken up during the seminar, include the increasing regulations for non-financial disclosures, risk reduction and reputation management, competitiveness and leverage, image and brand, customer and community communication, and employee relations.

The resource person of the seminar was Ms. Fatima Reyes, a widely recognized expert in sustainability management and reporting, environmental accounting and management system.

Association Update : 7/29/2008 : Active

Study Tour Program on Microfinance Draws 31 Participants

A big group of 31 participants from six countries attended the study tour program on the Philippine microfinance sector organized by ADFIAP's Asia-Pacific Institute of Development Finance (IDF) held in Manila and environs from July 21 to 25, 2008. Participants from Bhutan, Malaysia, Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines had the opportunity to learn more about the country's microfinance infrastructure from the regulatory, operational (both wholesale and retail) and support standpoints.

As a study tour program, the participants were exposed to best practice briefings by microfinance experts and practitioners, insitutional visits as well as "on the spot" familiarization trips. Among the institutions visited were the Asian Development Bank, the Development Bank of the Philippines, the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) Center, the National Credit Council, the Central Bank of the Philippines, the Land Bank of the Philippines, the People's Credit and Finance Corporation, Planters Development Bank and the Ahon sa Hirap, Inc. an microfinance institution in the outskirts of Manila.

This is the fourth microfinance study tour program conducted by the IDF, the third in the Philippines and another one in Cambodia. For more details on the program, please email

Association Update : 7/16/2008 : Active

CIPE-ADFIAP Corporate Citizenship Program in Progress

ADFIAP's recently-approved CIPE grant project entitled "Corporate Citizenship Programme for Development Banks in Asia & the Pacific" has started in earnest. The project, which will run for one year from July 1, 2008 to July 31, 2009, aims to introduce, develop and sustain corporate citizenship policies, processes and initiatives in ADFIAP member-institutions in Asia-Pacific region.

A series of meetings between the project team and resource persons have been held that resulted in the development of a framework called the "ADFIAP Corporate Citizenship Programme for Action" as well as a seminar-workshop design for the regional event. Also in progress is a membership-wide survey that will provide an overview of existing corporate citizenship practices in ADFIAP member-institutions. This activity will be followed by a regional seminar-workshop tentatively scheduled on December 15 -19, 2008 in Manila, Philippines. Four (4) national workshops will then be organized in cooperation with ADFIAP member-banks to adapt the regional experiences into the local context, the tentative timing and venues of which are as follows:

February 18-19, 2009       Suva, Fiji
March 19-20, 2009       Mumbai, India
April 23-24, 2009       Beijing, China
April 29-29, 2009       Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

For more details and information on the project, please email Sandra Honrado at

Association Update : 6/25/2008 : Active

IDF holds risk management-governance seminar in Malaysia

ADFIAP’s Institute of Development Finance (IDF), in cooperation with the Association of Development Finance Institutions of Malaysia (ADFIM), held a seminar-workshop on Improving Risk Management and Financial Disclosure Systems Under a Corporate Governance Framework on June 10-11, 2008 at the Swiss Garden Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The program is the last scheduled one in a series of national workshops under Phase 5 of ADFIAP's "Corporate Governance for DFIs" project.

The Vice Chairman of ADFIM’s Technical Committee, YBhg Datuk Mohamed Arsad Sehan, formally opened the seminar and gave the welcome remarks to the twenty (20) participants coming from 13 member-banks of ADFIM. Mr. Isidro Sobrecarey, ADFIAP Deputy Secretary-General and Ms. Sandra C. Honrado, ADFIAP Senior Executive on Programs, represented ADFIAP during the event. The main speaker was Dr. Cesar Saldaña, a Founding Fellow of the Philippine-based Institute of Corporate Directors and a Consultant of the Asian Development Bank and CitiGroup, among others. Other speakers and their topics were: IT Trend in Development Banks: Challenges Faced by Development Banks in Risk Management and the Role of IT in Mitigating Them by Mr. Sathya Narayanan of Satyam Computer Services, Ltd.; and Risk Management and Best Practices in SME Lending by Hj. Ali Bahari, Credit Risk Manager of SME Bank Malaysia.

The seminar is an offshoot of a regional event held from January 21-25, 2008 in Manila, Philippines which was attended by 22 participants from ADFIAP members. Aside from Malaysia, national events were also held in Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Islands, India, and Vietnam.

These training events, supported by the Washington D.C.-based Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), is focused on strengthening the bank’s core business functions of risk management and proper financial disclosure by reinforcing them with strong corporate governance principles. The programs also demonstrate how effective good corporate governance is in minimizing risks, attracting funds from international investors, and in improving transparency and accountability in a financial institution. Please visit the project's website at http://www.governance-asia.com.

Association Update : 6/2/2008 : Active

BEXCO, GBCVB Hosts ADFIAP

The Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) and the Greater Busan Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) hosted ADFIAP, represented by its Secretary General, Octavio B. Peralta, for an inspection visit to conference venues and sites in Busan, Korea as part of promoting the international port city as a meetings, incentives, convention and expo destination. The visit afforded ADFIAP to know more about Busan, its culture and people as well as to see firsthand the convention facilities that the city has to offer for the Association's future events.

AtBEXCO, Mr. Peralta met with Mr. Soo-Ik Kim, President & CEO and Mr. Soo-In Lee, Director of the Convention Team. He also met the members of the Convention Team namely, Ms. Gavy Ahn, Ms. Eva Lee, Ms. Kayley Heo and Mr. Yong-Tae Mun. BEXCO is the premier convention and exhibition center with world-class conference and expo facilities. Among the big events that BEXCO successfully holdsare the Busan International Motor Show, the Korean Railways and Logistics Fair, the Maritime Week and the Busan International Machinery Fair. BEXCO also manages the Nurimaru APEC House, the 2005 site of the Leaders Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held in Busan.

At the GBCVB, Mr. Peralta met with Ms. Demi Kang, Senior Manager, Convention Marketing and her colleagues, Ms. Sunny Lee, Ms. Suin Kim and Ms. Elly Chae.The GBCVB is the destination promotion and service support arm of the Busan Metropolitan City Government that provides convention planning services, hotel and meeting arrangements, attendance promotion, liaison with local organizations, press releases and varied promotional materials and displays.

Association Update : 5/20/2008 : Active

ADFIAP affiliates with the Asia Pacific Water Forum

AAs part of its sustainable development agenda and in its effort to partner with same-purposed organizations, ADFIAP has affiliated itself with the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF), a Tokyo-based independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan, non-political network. The APWF's goal is to contribute to sustainable water management in order to achieve the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Asia and the Pacific by capitalizing on the region's diversity and rich history of experience in dealing with water as a fundamental part of the human existence. The APWF was officially launched on September 27, 2006 at the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank, in the presence of former Prime Minister of Japan Yoshihiro Mori, who succeeded Mr. Hashimoto as the President of Japan Water Forum.

As water will continue to be a critical resource and sanitation, a crucial concern in the region, ADFIAP has been taking up steps to help its members in this sector. ADFIAP has also been cooperating with the ECO-Asia, a regional project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in developing water project finance which would lead to he establishment of an envisioned ‘ADFIAP Water Facility’ that ADFIAP members can implement.

This effort of the Association is rooted from the Hanoi Declaration No. 5 drafted during the 30th ADFIAP Annual Meetings in Hanoi, Vietnam in May of 2007 which states the commitment of ADFAP member DFIs in exploring opportunities for facilitating water sector financing. This was followed up during the CEO Forum IV in December 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand where chief executives of ADFIAP members discussed the issue of "Responsible Infrastructure Investment: Financing Access to Basic Utilities".

For more information on the APWF, please visit its website at http://www.apwf.org/

Association Update : 5/15/2008 : Active

ADFIAP greening initiative featured in international publication

ADFIAP’s "Greening of DFIs" project got another visibility mileage as it was featured in the "New Financiers and the Environment, Ten Perspectives on How Financial Institutions Can Protect the Environment (May 2008 issue), a publication of the International Rivers. The publication has both an English and a Chinese version. Please read a copy at ADFIAP's downloads section.

The "Greening of DFIs" project of the Association started in July 2000 to promote environmental due diligence in Asia. To achieve this goal, ADFIAP partnered with the United States-Asia Environmental Partnership (USAEP), where both organizations designed capacity building programs intended to educate the members of the Association on the importance and incorporation of written environmental policies into their overall business philosophies.

In 2005, the project got a big boost from the European Commission under its Asia-Pro Eco Programme with a Euro 346,446 grant for an 18-month project on Environmental Governance Standards (EGS) for ADFIAP member-banks. The project has been successfully completed resulting in the publication of three resource/trainers books to "green" the bank’s operational and lending processes and practices, using the internal environmental management system ( IEMS) and environmental risk scan (ERS), respectively (more on this at the project’s website at http://www.egs-asia.com.

International Rivers seeks a world in which rivers and the ecosystems they support are valued, and the importance of the links between healthy environments and healthy societies are understood. It envisions a world where development projects neither degrade nature nor impoverish people, and where all people have a voice in decisions affecting their lives and livelihoods. Through research, education and advocacy, International Rivers work to halt destructive river infrastructure projects, address the legacies of existing projects, improve development policies and practices and promote water and energy solutions for a just and sustainable world.

Association Update : 5/12/2008 : Active

IDF holds risk management-governance seminar in Ho Chi Minh

The Asia-Pacific Institute of Development Finance (IDF), ADFIAP’s professional training and career development center, has conducted a Seminar-Workshop on Improving Risk Management and Financial Disclosure Systems Under a Good Corporate Governance Framework on May 8-9, 2008 at the Majestic Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam . The event was hosted by the Vietnam Development Bank (VDB) and was represented by its Deputy General Director Ms. Dao Dung Anh. Forty participants from development banks and other financial institutions, research agencies, universities/academe and regulatory agencies like the State Bank of Vietnam attended the seminar. ADFIAP was represented by ADFIAP Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Roy Sobrecarey and Ms. Sandra Honrado , Senior Executive for Programs.

The main resource speaker was Dr. Cesar G. Saldana , a Founding Fellow of the Philippine-based Institute of Corporate Directors . Dr. Le Xuan Nghia , Director of Banking Strategy Development Department of the State Bank of Vietnam , lectured on "Risk Management in Vietnam Banking System" and "Solutions to Enhance the Current Liquidity of Banking".

The training event is part of Phase 5 of ADFIAP's "DFIs for Corporate Governance" project supported by the Washington D. C.-based Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). This Vietnam event focused on strengthening the financial institution’s core business functions of risk management and proper financial disclosure by reinforcing them with strong corporate governance principles. The program also demonstrated how effective good corporate governance is in minimizing risks, in attracting funds from international investors, and in improving transparency and accountability in a financial institution.

For more information on the project, please visit its website at http://www.governance-asia.com/

Association Update : 5/12/2008 : Active

ADFIAP Annual Meetings 2009 in Oman

The 32nd Annual Meetings of the Association in 2009 will be held in Muscat , Oman and will be hosted by the Oman Development Bank (ODB) . Representatives of the Bank attending the ADFIAP annual meetings in Tehran, namely, Mr. Hilal Hamed Abdullah Al Hasani, Member of the Board of Directors, Mr. Eid bin Khair Mohamed Ramadhan Al Balushi , Asst. General Manager, Corporate Banking and Mr. Issa Ali Al-Sabbagh , Company Secretary and Legal Advisor, were at hand to observe the proceedings of the annual meeting and to promote the event to be organized in the Omani capital next year.

ODB, the only ADFIAP member in the Arab world, was formed by merging the Oman Development Bank and Oman Bank for Agriculture and Fisheries (OBAF) with paid up capital of RO 20 million by the Government of Oman. The two banks were specialized in financing various development projects in different economic sectors, but excluding commercial trading activities.The mission of ODB is to enhance development in various sectors of the economy, in line with the goals of the government that aim to diversify the source of national revenue. Its mission is made possible through the Bank’s services that satisfy the financial needs of its clients. ODB's website is at http://www.odboman.net/.

Association Update : 5/12/2008 : Active

ADFIAP, DBK sign cooperation agreement

ADFIAP and its member, the Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK), signed an agreement of mutual cooperation in Tehran , Iran , on the occasion of the 31st ADFIAP Annual Meetings. The agreement is an offshoot of DBK's intention to coordinate the initiatives of the consortium of six bordering countries to promote investments through their development banks in their respective countries, namely, Uzbekistan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , Russia , China and Kazakhstan . ADFIAP was represented in the signing ceremony by its Secretary General, Mr. Octavio B. Peralta and DBK was represented by its Vice President, Mr. Gali Iskaliyev.

As stipulated in the agreement, both institutions will: (a) share experience, knowledge, ideas and lessons learned and generated by both parties in their respective fields; (b) plan joint activities in areas of common interest; (c) utilize and leverage their existing resources and facilities to mutual advantages and benefit; (c) collaborate on the promotion, preparation and organization of workshops and seminars; (d) jointly engage in dialogues and organize the meetings with other parties interested in activities being pursued under the agreement; (e) collaborate on ways to consult with other entities (associations, consortiums) engaged in similar, supplemental or related activities; (f) exchange information, documents, data and analytical tools if it is not contrary to the internal regulations of both parties; (g) undertake exchange of officers to share knowledge and expertise; and (g) other forms of collaboration that will redound to the mutual benefit of both parties.

Association Update : 5/9/2008 : Active

Tehran meetings a huge success

About a hundred delegates from ADFIAP members, partner organizations and invited guests convened in Tehran, Iran from April 28 to May 1, 2008 for the 31st ADFIAP Annual Meetings with the theme "Innovative Development Finance: DFIs’ Response to the Needs of the Times". The success of the Meetings was due to efficient and well-planned organization of the event by the host institution, the Bank of Industry and Mine, under the leadership of its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, Dr. Mehdi Razavi, with the able support of the officers and staff of the Bank.

The Meetings was graced by Dr. Ghazavi, Vice President in Central Bank of Islamic Republic of Iran, who delivered the inaugural address. Dr. Razavi formally opened the event and gave the welcome remarks while Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting, ADFIAP Chairman and Chairman and CEO of the Planters Development Bank delivered the opening remarks.

This year’s conference theme revolved around four (4) sessions with various relevant topics that was discussed and dissected by practitioners in the field of development finance. Each session became a platform for the delegates to exchange fresh ideas and best practices in the areas of innovative banking strategies, financial services and technologies, as well as governance, risk management, and human resource management, among others.

Among the speakers who shared fresh ideas and new insights during the conference included: Mr. Gali Iskaliyev of the Development Bank of Kazakstan (DBK); Mr. Takejiro Sueyoshi of the United Nations Environment Finance Initiative (UNEP FI); Mr. Shankarnarayan Rao of the Export-Import Bank of India; Mr. Masamitsu Kawasumi of the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ); Ma. Theresa Quirino of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP); Mr. Rakesh Rewari of the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI); Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting of the Planters Development Bank (PDB); Ms. Martini Osman of Agro Bank Malaysia, Mr. Nadeem Rafi Khan of the House Building Finance Corporation (HBFC) Pakistan; and Mr. Ali Yaseri Iran’s former Representative to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Other highlights of the Annual Meetings were: the Board of Directors Meeting; the General Assembly Meeting, where the Tehran Consensus was drafted; the Delegate-Meets-Delegate Networking Session, the ADFIAP Awards Night and the fellowship program, where the delegates were flown to the historic City of Esfahan for a day tour.

The 32nd ADFIAP Annual Meetings will be held in Muscat, Oman to be hosted by the Oman Development Bank (ODB). The exact dates will be announced in due time.

Association Update : 5/9/2008 : Active

Lima assumes chairmanship

The ADFIAP Board has elected Mr. Fuimaono Falefa Lima, General Manager of the Development Bank of Samoa, as the new ADFIAP Chairman upon the decision of Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting to stand down as ADFIAP Chairman after serving the Board for four years. Mr. Lima, the most senior Board Member, joined the ADFIAP Board of Directors in 1992 and was elected Vice Chairman in 2003. Under the Constitution, the ADFIAP Chairman has a term of office of two years, with re-election permitted to the same office for another term of office, or a total of four years.

Mr. Lima is a graduate of BA (Economics) from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji in 1975 and M.A. in Development Banking from the American University in Washington, DC in 1991. He joined the Development Bank of Samoa in 1975 as Loan Officer. He was promoted to several Senior and Management positions within the bank subsequently. His dedication earned him to the position of Assistant General Manager of Finance Administration and Development Department in 1985 and appointed as General Manager of the Bank in 1992.

He has attended several development banking and project investment promotion training conducted by ADFIAP and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He was among the participants of ADFIAP’s First Executive Development Programme held in early 1980’s.

Mr. Lima is presently the Chairman of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in the Pacific (ADFIP).

Association Update : 5/9/2008 : Active

Razavi elected Vice Chair

The ADFIAP Board, in its 67th Meeting in Tehran, Iran on April 28, 2008, has elected Dr. Mehdi Razavi, CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Industry & Mine (BIM), as Vice Chairman of the Association, filling the position left by Mr. Fuimaono Falefa Lima, now the newly elected Chairman of the Board (please see separate story).

Dr. Razavi has a wealth of experience in the fields of banking and finance and education which he gained from his many years of engagement from both the public and private sectors. In the field of education, Dr. Razavi has taught in universities in Iran and abroad. His vast experience in the banking and finance earned him directorships in several financial institutions, aside from the BIM, like Export Bank of Iran, Export Bank of Khorasan, Small Industries Organization, Iran Industrial Cities, Trade Bank of Iran and Europe. He is also at present a consultant to the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Dr. Razavi has had published several books, among them are: Introduction of Operations Research; Planning for Large Scale Systems; Banking in Iran: A Usury Free Approach; Principles of Systems Design: An Assault on Complexity; Dynamic Modelling of Environmental Systems; Islamic Economics: A System Design; and A Design for an Islamic Economic Analysis. Aside from the books, he has also written several articles, mostly on economics, published in various magazines and schools in Iran.

Dr. Razavi has Ph.D and MA in Economics, degrees he earned from the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, U.S.A. He has also a Post Doctorate, M.E (Master of Engineering) in Systems Engineering, from the School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, U. S. A.

Association Update : 5/9/2008 : Active

DBP's David, CEO of the Year

Based on his remarkable achievements in the field of development finance, Mr. Reynaldo G. David, President & CEO of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), stood out among the other nominees and won the 2008 Outstanding CEO of the Year Award from ADFIAP.

Under Mr. David's dynamic leadership, DBP continued to perform the delicate balancing act of accomplishing its development mandate while boosting its financial strength to record levels as it achieved a net income of US$95 million and US$105 million in 2006 and 2007, respectively. DBP contributes one of the biggest shares in dividends to the government by state financial institutions.

Among Mr. David's notable achievements in DBP are the following:

The Bank became the first government financial institution to issue capital notes. DBP also made a successful debut in the offshore market with its tier 1 hybrid capital securities, the first international deal of the Bank, and one of the biggest order books for a non-sovereign offshore offering.
DBP scored highest among 31 state corporations in the Corporate Governance Scorecard in 2006, a commendable feat as it was the first run off the scorecard in the Philippines, and in the world. The Bank has produced and institutionalized a Code of Ethics to continue to promote best practices in governance and public service.
DBP was the first bank to respond to the plight of exporters and overseas Filipino workers amidst the strengthening of the Peso through its hedging program.
The Bank added another dimension to its mandate by initiating an Endowment for Education program that provides free college education to 150 disadvantaged yet promising high school graduates yearly for 10 years.
DBP participated in the first power sector privatization to be successfully concluded with significant foreign participation – the US$380 million Magat Hydropower Project Financing.
The Bank intensified assistance to micro-enterprises to raise income levels and living standards by re-focusing its microfinance program towards advocacy and institutional building, particularly to 33 identified unserved areas in Southern Philippines.
DBP remained a formidable partner in the growth and development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) through a package of assistance that combines credit and non-credit programs. Thirteen Business Assistance Centers are now strategically located in key areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, serving as one-stop shops for MSME support services such as e-services, business counseling, project development, and financial advisory.

Association Update : 5/9/2008 : Active

Eleven members bag ADFIAP Awards 2008

This year’s winners of the most coveted ADFIAP Awards - the institutional Outstanding Development Project Awards and the individual Outstanding CEO of the Year Award, were presented in a formal awarding ceremony and gala dinner on April 29, 2008 at the Esteghal Grand Hotel in Tehran, Iran on the occasion of the 31st Annual Meetings of ADFIAP. Eleven members were honored during the awarding ceremony as they emerged winners from 32 project entries from 19 institutions in 11 countries.

The winners of the Outstanding Development Project Awards were:

Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for its DBP Management Associates Program (Human Resource Development Category);
Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) for its LBP’s Environmental Due Diligence (Environmental Development Category);
Export-Import Bank of India and Planters Development Bank for their Enterprise Management Development Services Project and Industrial Park for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME Development Category), respectively;
Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK) and Bank of Industry & Mine for their Creation of Transport and Logistics Centers in Almaty and Astana Cities and Infrastructure Projects Finance by BIM (Infrastructure Development Category), respectively;
DFCC Bank and Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK) for their RECOGEN Project and Construction of Polycrystalline Silicum Plant (Technology Development), respectively;
Development Bank of Japan and DFCC Bank for their Public Private Partnership Projects and Renewable Energy for Rural Economic Development (RERED)(Local Economic Development), respectively; and
Bank Keshavarzi for its Hazrat Zeynab Project: An Application of Qard-al-Hassanah Funds for Poverty Alleviation of Rural Household-headed Woman in Iran (Development Finance-Led Poverty Reduction).

Special citations were also given to the project entries of the:

Bank of Industry and Mine on Quantifying of Skills and Individual Characteristics (Human Resource Development Category) ;
Small Industries Development Bank of India on National Venture Fund for Software and Information Technology Industry (NFSIT) (SME Development Category); and
House Building Finance Corporation on "Khuda ki Basti", Social Empowerment of the Poor (Development Finance Le-Led Poverty Reduction).

The ADFIAP Awards, already in its 12th year running, has recognized the outstanding people and project achievements of member-banks and has become the hallmark of development performance and excellence in the region. It has been receiving accolades from various organizations for its essential role in empowering its member institutions to pursue development projects that contributes to the development of ADFIAP members respective countries, to the Asia- Pacific region, and into the whole world, in general.

Association Update : 5/9/2008 : Active

ADFIAP welcomes 5 new members

The ADFIAP Board, in its 67th Meeting in Tehran, Iran, confirmed the membership of five new institutions to the ADFIAP membership roster, increasing the number of members to 92 in 37 countries and territories. The new members of the ADFIAP include the Eurasian Development Bank, Esquire International Financing Inc (Philippines), the Coalition of Socially Responsible SMEs in Asia, the Center for SME Growth & Development Finance (India), and MNY Consulting Sdn Berhad (Malaysia).

Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is a joint venture financial institution between Russia and Kazakhstan. It was established and operates in accordance with the agreement between the two countries on January 12, 2006. The purpose of the Bank is to contribute to the development and growth of market economy in the member-states and to promote trade and economic integration among them by engaging in investment activities. The Bank shall carry out its activities aimed at strengthening international financial and economic cooperation upon the principle that membership of the Bank is open to new states and international organizations. The Bank's mission is to facilitate the development of market economies, economic growth and the expansion of trade and other economic ties in its member states by carrying out investment activities. http://www.eabr.org/eng

Esquire International Financing Inc., is a current venture for social benefit, providing microfinancing to small businesses. It was established in June 2006 at Morong, Rizal Province in the Philippines. After a month of its establishment, branches were opened in different cities and towns in Batangas Province. This was followed by the opening of branches also in the Province of Cavite. "Help Entrepreneurs Launch Plentitude Foundation (HELP) Inc., their business name, provides financial help to poor Filipinos who want to start a small business. http://www.esquireinternational.com/history

The Coalition of Socially Responsible SMEs in Asia, Inc., was established in 2001 (with the former name Asian Coalition for SME Development) as an offshoot of a regional conference on "Globalization and Development". CSRSME Asia has since brought together leaders of SME networks from various Asian countries to share their visions, development perspectives, unique experiences and best practices on solidarity economy. http://www.charter-human-responsibilities.net/spip.php?article1039

The Centre for SME Growth & Development Finance (CESMED) is an international advisory, development, training and research institution for SMEs and development financial institutions in Mumbai, India. CESMED with its twin objectives aims at promoting competitive and dynamic micro, small and medium enterprises (SME) sector with the support of banking and development financial system. This synergy is brought by CESMED through various programs, policy dialogue and capacity building initiatives. http://www.cesmed.org/index.htm

MNY Consulting Sdn Berhad was incorporated in July 2006 initially as a sole proprietor. Later in February 2008, the company was converted into a private limited company and its objectives are: (a) financial consultancy; (b) management consultancy. Dato Md. Mohammad Noor Yusoff, ADFIAP Honorary Member and former Group CEO of Bank Industri Malaysia, is the key person at MNY.

Association Update : 5/9/2008 : Active

Members issue Tehran Declaration

ADFIAP members attending the 12th Extraordinary Meeting of the General Assembly on April 29, 2008 in Tehran, Iran, have approved the issuance of the "Tehran Declaration" that embodies their hopes and aspirations for the Association in the near term. Following are the pronouncements:

Declaration No. 1 Innovation and Sustainability: Realizing that its members’ sustainability as development finance institutions is continuously challenged by the ever-changing dynamics of global as well as local economic conditions, ADFIAP needs to be in constant search for fresh ideas, emerging trends and innovative solutions and to document, disseminate and share these issues to the general membership and its stakeholders. Organizing and conducting best practice exchanges among members, undertaking research and publishing studies as well as working with same-purposed institutions are among the measures that can be adopted going forward.

Declaration No. 2 Governance and Sustainable Development: Acknowledging that the Association and its members’ mission of advocating sustainable development cannot be achieved without the collective action and adherence to good governance standards and best practices, ADFIAP commits to support and sustain programs and initiatives that strengthens these conventions, particularly its DFIs for Good Governance program with the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE).

Declaration No. 3 Investing in the Environment: Recognizing that engagement with and tackling on environmental concerns and issues, including climate change, both within member-institutions and those of their clients, has considerable developmental and social impact, ADFIAP will continue with its Greening of DFIs program that institutionalizes policies, procedures and practices of good environmental governance and in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Program and other organizations advocating similar objectives and initiatives.

Declaration No. 4 DFIs and Sustainable Investments: Committing to its objectives of being mainstream institutions in the sustainable development arena, ADFIAP and its members will continue to explore sustainable investments and other business opportunities, particularly in their support to micro, small and medium enterprises (sSMEs), housing and infrastructure development, water sector finance, ecotourism, organic agriculture, renewable and clean energy technology, etc. as well as to relate and partner with like-minded development institutions around the world that will contribute to the attainment of this goal.

Declaration No. 5 Research and Capacity-Building: Strengthening its unique competency in research, training and capacity-building in development finance, ADFIAP will develop its Asia-Pacific Institute of Development Finance or IDF as the Knowledge Hub on Development Finance by expanding its current programs to include new courses in micro and SME financing, sustainability reporting, Islamic banking, key performance indicators, training-the-trainors, communications, and publishing existing materials and new case studies having Asia-Pacific contents, market relevance and classroom value.

Association Update : 5/9/2008 : Active

ADFIAP wins International Award for its "Greening" Project

The Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) has received the prestigious Associations Make A Better World Award from the Washington, D.C.-based American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) & the Center for Association Leadership for its "Environment Governance Standards (EGS) for DFIs" project. The Awards Committee, in giving the award, stated that "the program truly embodies the spirit of the Associations Make A Better World campaign which seeks to recognize outstanding examples of associations who make a significant contribution to societies and economies worldwide". The Associations Make A Better World Awards are presented annually to recognize the valuable contributions made by associations around the world.

The completed two-year EGS Project funded by a € 346, 446 grant from the European Commission's EU-Asia Pro Eco Programme brought forth a wide participation of DFIs in Asia to promote good corporate environmental policy and practices. Among other activities and achievements of the EGS project, two management tools, the Internal Environmental Management System (IEMS) and the Environmental Risk Scan (ERS) provides the "how-to's" in "greening" the organization and its bottomline and in integrating environmental aspects in lending decisions, respectively. For this project, ADFIAP worked with the Germany's UNEP/Wuppertal Institute Collaborating Center for Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP) and the U.K.'s University of Leeds and the University of St. Andrews.

ADFIAP http://www.adfiap.org/ is the focal point of all development banks and other financial institutions engaged in the financing of development in the Asia-Pacific region. Founded in 1976, ADFIAP has currently 92 member-institutions in 37 countries. ADFIAP co-chairs the UNEP/FI's Asia-Pacific Task Force Outreach Group. The permanent Secretariat of ADFIAP is based in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Association Update : 5/9/2008 : Active

ADFIAP wins International Award for its CIPE-funded Corporate Governance Project

The Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) has received the prestigious Associations Make A Better World Award from the Washington, D.C.-based American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) & the Center for Association Leadership for its "DFIs for Corporate Governance" project. The Awards Committee, in giving the award, stated that "the program truly embodies the spirit of the Associations Make A Better World campaign which seeks to recognize outstanding examples of associations who make a significant contribution to societies and economies worldwide". The Associations Make A Better World Awards are presented annually to recognize the valuable contributions made by associations around the world.

The 5-phased corporate governance project, with funding support from the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), brought forth a wide participation of DFIs in the Asia-Pacific region in promoting and institutionalizing good corporate governance policies and practices in accordance to world-recognized conventions. The project started out in 2002 with an awareness and orientation campaign on corporate governance issues (Phase I) and then into developing a corporate governance "scorecard" for DFIs and other financial institutions (Phase II). It subsequently focused on expanding the role of the bank's compliance officer to cover governance matters (Phase III) and then linking governance with sustainable development (Phase IV). In its final stage, the project tackled risk management within the framework of corporate governance (Phase V).

A total of 27 training & capacity-building events so far have been held in various countries where ADFIAP has a member. In all, 623 Board Directors, CEOs and senior managers of over 100 member-banks, affiliates and partners, including non-member commercial banks and other financial institutions from 33 countries have benefited from the program. Over 20 national training program designs, 3 manuals and toolkits, 1 newsletter called "Governance"; training materials for all five phases, 4 published articles in the Journal of Development Finance, and countless news items per event featured in the ADFIAP Newsletter and in its website have been published and disseminated. The project has its own website at http://www.governance-asia.com/

ADFIAP http://www.adfiap.org is the focal point of all development banks and other financial institutions engaged in the financing of development in the Asia-Pacific region. Founded in 1976, ADFIAP has currently 92 member-institutions in 37 countries. ADFIAP is an NGO in consultative status with the United Nations' Economic and Social Council. The permanent Secretariat of ADFIAP is based in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Association Update : 5/9/2008 : Active

ADFIAP Strategic plan on track

ADFIAP’s 5-year strategic plan, now in its fourth year of implementation, is certainly on track. This was the assessment of the Board when it met in Tehran in conjunction with the 31st ADFIAP Annual Meetings held recently in the Iranian capital.

Highlights of the five strategic directions and achievements so far include: (a) Membership Development, resulting in an increase in the number of members from 52 in 25 countries in 2005 to 92 members in 37 countries as of April 2008; (b) Policy Development and Advocacy resulting in the recognition of and preference for ADFIAP as a development advocate and partner by being an NGO in consultative status with the UN’s Economic and Social Council, as Co-Chair of the UN Environment Program (UNEP) Finance Initiative's Asia-Pacific Task Force Outreach Group, as Member, Advisory Board, Cooperation Dialogue of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), invitations and speaking engagements in high-level conferences and forums in the area of environmental banking, sustainable consumption and production, socially-responsible investing and related areas; (c) Resource Development and Innovation resulting in a remarkable increase in financial and partnership resources, tripling surpluses for more member benefits (d) Human Capital Development, Professional Standards and Education benefiting hundreds of members’ officers and staff through training and credentialing programs of the Institute of Development Finance (IDF); and (e) Support of ADFIAP –affiliated National and Sub-regional DFI Associations and Counterpart Regional Associations Worldwide resulting in co-organized training events, more interaction, and frequent exchanges of information with same-purposed associations regionwide and around the world.

Association Update : 4/29/2008 : Active

IDF holds risk management-governance seminar in Mumbai

The Asia-Pacific Institute of Development Finance (IDF), ADFIAP’s professional training and career development center, has conducted a National Seminar on Improving Risk Management & Finance Disclosure in the Context of Corporate Governance on April 10-11, 2008 at the Marine Plaza Hotel in Mumbai , India , hosted by IDBI Bank Ltd. It was attended by 24 participants from 14 banks and other institutions in India .

The main speaker of the seminar was Dr. Cesar Saldana, a Founding Fellow of the Philippine-based Institute of Corporate Directors and a Consultant of the Asian Development Bank and CitiGroup, among others. Other speakers who presented and their respective topics were: Corporate Governance Ratings by Shri S. Venkataraman, Ratings Director, Crisil Ltd.; Basel II-Significance of Pillar III by Dr. D.M. Nachane, Director, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR); and Securitization: A post Sub-prime Perspective by Shri Shushil Sharma, Director, APTIVAA.

IDBI’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Jitender Ballakrishnan, formally opened the seminar and gave the welcome remarks to the participants. Mr. Isidro Sobrecarey, ADFIAP Deputy Secretary-General and Ms. Sandra C. Honrado, ADFIAP Senior Executive on Programs, represented ADFIAP during the event.

This training event, supported by the Washington D. C.-based Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), is focused on strengthening the bank’s core business functions of risk management and proper financial disclosure by reinforcing them with strong corporate governance principles. The program also demonstrated how effective good corporate governance is in minimizing risks, in attracting funds from international investors, and in improving transparency and accountability in a financial institution.

Association Update : 4/29/2008 : Active

ADFIAP conducts survey on financing water and sanitation

In cooperation with ECO-Asia, a regional project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), ADFIAP is undertaking a survey on Financing for the Water and Sanitation Sector. This is a follow-up action to the CEO Forum IV held in Bangkok, Thailand last December where chief executives of ADFIAP members discussed the issue of "Responsible Infrastructure Investment: Financing Access to Basic Utilities".

The rationale for the survey centers on the issue that water will continue to be a critical resource and sanitation a crucial concern in the Asia Pacific. And, as studies by the Asian Development Bank and World Bank indicate, there is an urgent need for public as well private investments in the water sector to increase dramatically. ADFIAP believes that this situation could present to its members an opportunity for financing and enhancing their development mandate.

The immediate objective of this survey is to determine the existing portfolio of ADFIAP member-DFIs in the water sector. Specifically, ADFIAP would want to know the lending programs or financial services for investors in the water and sanitation sector. The next-step would be to organize an ADFIAP Water Finance Forum in Manila sometime in June this year to assess how best DFIs can address the water issue. Hopefully, the entire exercise would lead to the establishment of an ‘ADFIAP Water Finance Facility’ that ADFIAP members can implement.

For more details, please email the ADFIAP Secretariat at

Association Update : 3/26/2008 : Active

Annual Meeting Update: 70 Delegates Confirmed, More Expected

Over 70 delegates from ADFIAP members and partners from 20 countries have now confirmed attendance to the 31st ADFIAP Annual Meetings to be held on April 28 to May 1, 2008 in Tehran, Iran and hosted by the Bank of Industry and Mine. More delegates are expected to confirm their attendance as the event draws closer.

The Annual Meetings consist of the Board Meeting, the General Assembly Meeting, the Delegate-Meets-Delegate Session and the Conference Proper, as well as the ADFIAP Awards Night and the Fellowship Program. For more details of the event, please visit the conference website at http://www.adfiap.org/31st/

One of the highlights of the 3-day event, the Conference Proper, with the theme "Innovative Development Finance: DFIs’ Response to the Needs of the Times", will feature four (4) sessions on different topics to be presented and discussed by experts in the field. This exchange of fresh ideas and best practices will cover areas on innovative banking strategies, financial services, and technologies as well as best-of-industry policies and processes on governance, risk management, and human resource management, among others.

For inquiries and attendance confirmation, please email Ms. Sandy Lim at

Association Update : 3/05/2008 : Active

IDF holds risk management-governance seminar in Manila

The Asia-Pacific Institute of Development Finance (IDF), ADFIAP’s professional training and career development center, conducted the International Seminar-Workshop on Improving Risk Management and Financial Disclosure Systems under a Corporate Governance Framework from January 21-25, 2008 in Manila, Philippines. The seminar was attended by 22 participants from ADFIAP member-banks in Bhutan, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Oman, Palau, Fiji, Samoa and the Philippines.

The 5-day event, supported by the Washington D. C.-based Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), focused on strengthening the bank’s core business functions of risk management and proper financial disclosure by reinforcing them with strong corporate governance principles. The program also demonstrated how effective a good corporate governance is in minimizing risks, attracting funds from international investors, and in improving transparency and accountability in a financial institution.

Aside from their in-depth classroom discussions with experts and practitioners from Philippine-based ADFIAP members, the participants also had the opportunity to visit the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and learned about its risk management policies and practices.

The pool of resource persons, led by Dr. Cesar Saldaña, consisted ADB's Mr. Thomas Bieling and Mr. Jingdong Hua, Sr. Specialist, Credit and Assistant Treasurer, respectively; Ms. Luna David, Sr. Vice President, Financial Delivery Group of the Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corporation; Mr. Rino S. Zerma, Bank Officer II, MSME Finance Specialist Group of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines); Mr. Ananias S. Cornelio III, Vice President, Head of Risk Management Office, Development Bank of the Philippines and Ms. Alegria Obien, Senior Vice President & Head, Credit Supervision & Review Group of Planters Development Bank.

Association Update : 3/05/2008 : Active

Preparations in Full Swing

As the ADFIAP 31st Annual Meetings draws closer, all preparations for the event are now in full swing. The Meetings, which consists the Board Meeting, the General Assembly Meeting, the Delegate-Meets-Delegate Session and the Conference Proper, as well as the ADFIAP Awards Night and the Fellowship Program, will be hosted by the Bank of Industry and Mine in Tehran on April 28 to May 1, 2008.

It will be the first time that ADFIAP will have its Annual Meetings in the Middle East. About a hundred delegates from ADFIAP member-institutions, international partners and other invited organizations from around 30 countries are expected to attend the event.

For inquiries and attendance, please email Ms. Sandy Lim at

Association Update : 3/05/2008 : Active

IDF scales up operation

With the recent Board approval of scaling up the operation of ADFIAP's Asia-Pacific Institute of Development Finance (IDF) as part of the Association's social entrepreneurship direction, the training arm has developed its own business model going forward.

As a stand alone business unit of the Association, the IDF positions itself as the eminent training and credentialing center for development financing in Asia Pacific backed by the Association's over 30 years of experience and expertise in organizing and conducting training and capacity-building programs in the region. The objective is to continue professionalizing the field of development finance by designing and delivering skills-oriented and mindset-forming programs on development banking, using the ADFIAP members' extensive and practical knowledge on the field.

To allow cross-fertilization and exchange of ideas, cultures and know-how thereby broadening and revitalizing the development banking profession, the IDF aims to invite participants from other financial institutions and same-purposed development organizations to enroll in its regular and credentialing program-offerings.

Presently, the IDF has three credentialing programs for the professional and managerial staff of development finance institutions (DFIs) each granting successful graduates the following credentials: the Associate in Development Banking (Level 1), the Affiliate in Development Bank Management (Level 2) and Fellow in Development Banking (Level 3). The IDF also runs specialized seminars and workshops on risk management, project management, environmental due diligence, public relations, corporate governance and CSR as well as study tour programs on microfinance and small and medium enterprises (SME) finance. It plans to expand its training porfolio to include Islamic banking and sustainability reporting, among others.

For more information and to enrol in the IDF's programs for 2008, please visit the ADFIAP website at www.adfiap.org in the meantime that the IDF's own website is being enhanced and uploaded in the Internet.

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ADFIAP, ECO-Asia organize water finance consultative meeting

IDF runs 2nd key performance indicators workshop in Manila

ADFIAP's Report 2008 featured in CSR site

ADFIAP participates in UNDP Cambodia workshop

ADFIAP speaks at Business Development Summit

ADFIAP’s IDF, SME Bank Thailand hold Study Tour Program on SME Finance

ADFIAP invited to GCGF's Corporate Governance Board Leadership Program

Delegates highly rate Muscat Meetings

ADFIAP launches 1st Sustainability Report

Eight members win ADFIAP Awards 2009

SIDBI's Malla, CEO-of-the-Year

Ambassador Tambunting, Distinguished Person 2009

Bovoro, new Honorary Member

ADFIAP member adopt the Muscat Declaration

ADFIAP welcomes 3 new members, ups total to 103

11 Board Members reelected, ODB is new Board member

Board approves 2nd 5-year Strategic Plan

ADFIAP Consulting now ready to serve

DFI's to help stimulate region amidst global crisis

Best DFIs in Asia Pacific named

DFIs seen playing bigger roles in global crisis

ADFIAP Participates in Financial Inclusion Forum

ADFIAP holds 32nd Annual Meetings in Muscat

ADFIAP attends Regional Forum on Social Enterprises

ADFIAP launches 3 new member services

"iamadfiap" branding campaign on

ADFIAP Speaks at International EcoForum

ADFIAP Secretariat offsets its CO2 emission

ADFIAP, USAID’s ECO-Asia hold Water Finance Forum in Manila

ADFIAP speaks at UNESCAP, Sida Climate Change Forum

ADFIAP provides technical assistance to ADFIP

Secretariat holds Annual Business Planning Meeting

ADFIAP continues as UNEP FI Outreach Group Co-Chair

IDF grants Credentials to New Set of Members’ Officers

BDC to host ADFIAP Annual Meeting 2010 in Vancouver

CEOs share insights, best practices in KL Forum

Board meets in KL; effective governance in the agenda

Milestone: ADFIAP grows to 100 members in 40 countries

ADFIAP Board affirms constitutional provisions on governance

ADFIAP to intensify member engagement through SIG programs

ADFIAP launches The ARC Institute

Fiji’s Bovoro, Honorary Member

IDF breaks ground with key performance indicators workshop for DFIs

IDF breaks ground with key performance indicators workshop for DFIs

ADFIAP and ADBEC to cooperate on development activities

Two Commercial Banking Groups Invite ADFIAP

Study tour program on SME financing for Malaysian banks held

ADFIAP Chairs Pacific DFI Roundtable Session

ADFIAP Speaks at 3rd Green Growth Forum

BDC Hosts Best Practice Exchange in Montreal

ADFIAP wins two international awards

IDF organizes governance seminar for Pacific DFIs

USAID’s ECO-Asia, ADFIAP launch water finance project

IDF conducts 2nd PR workshop

IDF holds sustainability reporting seminar in Manila

Study Tour Program on Microfinance Draws 31 Participants

CIPE-ADFIAP Corporate Citizenship Program in Progress

ADFIAP Speaks at The Banking Academy

IDF holds risk management-governance seminar in Malaysia

ADFIAP supports Forum on Sustainable Economy in Asia

ADFIAP Speaks at World Savings Banks Forum

ADFIAP Meets with Korea Eximbank, Eco Frontier

BEXCO, GBCVB Hosts ADFIAP

ADFIAP affiliates with the Asia Pacific Water Forum

ADFIAP greening initiative featured in international publication

IDF holds risk management-governance seminar in Ho Chi Minh

ADFIAP Annual Meetings 2009 in Oman

ADFIAP, DBK sign cooperation agreement

ADFIAP Annual Report 2007 follows Sustainability Reporting Guidelines

Tehran meetings a huge success

Lima assumes chairmanship

Razavi elected Vice Chair

DBP's David, CEO of the Year

Eleven members bag ADFIAP Awards 2008

ADFIAP welcomes 5 new members