ADFIAP Secretary-General, Enrique Florencio, joins fellow Secretaries-General at the Board of Governors Meeting of the World Federation of Development Financing Institutions (WFDFI) on Thursday, January 12, 2023, via zoom

The ADFIAP Institute is pleased to announce that the ADFIAP Career Credentialing Programme now offers the Certified Development Bank Associate (CDBA) and Certified Development Bank Executive (CDBE) credentials to development bank professionals and young professionals working in any financial institutions. 

From L-R: Arlene Orencia (AC); Cecilia Ibarra (AC); Cora Conde (AC); Lindsay Timarong (PIDB); Enrique Florencio, SG; Sandra Honrado (Group Head); John Alianza (Group Head) Makati City, Nov. 14, 2022: ADFIAP Secretariat represented by its Secretary General, Mr. Enrique Florencio welcomes its Guam-based member Pacific Islands Development Bank, represented by its President and CEO, Ms.

Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (Pernas) announced that 16 Gloria Jean’s Coffees locations would be opened in Malaysia in 2023 to enhance franchising opportunities. Pernas, established by Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance in 1969 to explore franchising opportunities in the nation, will invest RM 8 million ($1.9 million) in the expansion, which will target shopping center locations and its first drive-thru store. The Kuala Lumpur-based firm presently has 44 Gloria Jean’s Coffee locations around Malaysia, the most recent of which is at the University Putra Malaysia Teaching Hospital in Serdang.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees entered the Malaysian market in 2006 through Pernas’ subsidiary Wonderful Lifestyle Sdn Bhd. The coffee chain is also present in Myanmar and Brunei. Gloria Jean’s Coffees was founded in Illinois, USA, and is based in Sydney, Australia. The company has over 890 franchised outlets in over 40 countries worldwide. According to World Coffee Portal, the Malaysian branded coffee shop industry will have 2,750 outlets by 2025.

Several major coffee brands, including Starbucks and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, have recently announced intentions to expand across Malaysia by 2023, aiming to add 40 new locations to reach 400 and 180, respectively. Meanwhile, Kopi Kenangan of Indonesia opened its first international store in Malaysia in October 2022, while Paris Baguette debuted in Malaysia in January.

The Islamic Corporation for the Growth of the Private Sector (ICD) has inked a new $120 million initiative to accelerate private sector-led development in Egypt through 2023. The proposal includes increasing credit lines for Egyptian financial institutions totaling $80 million to boost small and medium enterprises. H.E. attended the signing ceremony, as did other high-ranking government officials. Dr. Hala Al-Said, Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development and Governor of the Egyptian Islamic Development Bank, and H.E. Eng. Tarek El Molla, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, and H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation.
The program intends to promote private-sector-led growth and involves increasing loan lines for Egyptian financial institutions totaling $80 million to boost private-sector organizations. The ICD will also provide $40 million in funding for private sector firms and infrastructure projects. This new initiative represents a significant advancement in the ICD’s commitment to Egypt’s private sector and serves as a ray of optimism for the country’s economy. The ICD’s investment in the private sector will create new possibilities, drive growth, and provide the country with a much-needed lift.

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Assam Regional Office in Guwahati approved the MEDP training program for Chapar Commercial Institute in Chapar, Dhubri. Under the MEDP, 15 days of tailoring, jute craft, and beauty parlor training were provided to 30 SHG members in three batches, benefiting 90 SHG members. According to NABARD sources, Kabita Deka Biswas, Circle Officer, Chapar Block, Ratan Mani Soram, DDM of NABARD, Kokrajhar/Dhubri, Asif Ahmed, DPM, ASRLM, Dhubri, Nural Huda Mollah, BPM-Chapar, ASRLM, and Shah Alom Khan, Principal of Chapar Commercial Institute, Chapar attended the program.
Speaking at the event, Kabita Deka Biswas noted that to be competitive in this field, one must enhance their skills in design, marketing, and so on. According to Ratan Mani Soram, DDM, NABARD, four MEDPs were organized in Dhubri district, benefiting 120 SHG members. He further mentioned that one Livelihood Enterprise Development Programme (LEDP) on handloom and weaving for 90 SHG members was sanctioned for the Dhubri district.

The Development Bank of Mongolia (DBM) has been supporting the Mongolian Government’s program on advancing small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The DBM has been providing soft loans for the purpose of enhancing factory capacity of the SMEs which will expand their scope, generate employment, uplift standard of living, and help in the economic development of

Russia’s Vnesheconombank and Renova Group of Companies JSC signed a cooperation agreement during the Russian Investment Forum in Sochi, Russia, to work on financing high-tech, innovations and investments in disruptive technologies, including projects aimed at developing digital economy, industry 4.0, blockchain, and neurotechnologies. Both parties are going to pay special attention to supporting export of

The Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) offers “DBJ Green Building Certification” in order to support its customers who own or operate real estate properties with high environmental and social awareness. Based on its comprehensive evaluation system, which includes not only an environmental perspective but also a social one (owner response to social needs of the