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.

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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/

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Association Update : 5/12/2008 : Active

ADFIAP Annual Meetings 2009 in Oman

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.

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Association Update : 5/12/2008 : Active

ADFIAP, DBK sign cooperation agreement

ADFIAP has began to adopt the sustainability reporting guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative ( GRI ) for its Annual Report 2007. While in its initial stages, ADFIAP endeavors to move into the next level for its annual report 2008 .The GRI produces the world’s de facto standard in sustainability reporting guidelines. Sustainability reporting is the action where an organization publicly communicates their economic, environmental, and social performance. The GRI ’s mission is to make sustainability reporting by all organizations as routine and comparable as financial reporting. The GRI guidelines are the most common framework used in the world for reporting. More than 1,000 organizations from 60 countries use the guidelines to produce their sustainability reports.

For copies of the ADFIAP annual report 2007, please email Robert Juan , Info Officer, at or visit the ADFIAP website at www.adfiap.org

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Association Update : 5/12/2008 : Active

ADFIAP Annual Report 2007 follows Sustainability Reporting Guidelines

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/.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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Association Update : 3/05/2008 : Active

Update: ADFIAP 31st Annual Meetings

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.

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 additional information on the Annual Meetings, please visit the ADFIAP website at www.adfiap.org

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

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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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