2011, International CEO Forum VIII in Thimphu, Bhutan

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF ADFIAP

MR. NIHAL FONSEKA
General Manager and CEO, DFCC Bank, Sri Lanka
And Chairman, Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP)

On behalf of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), I wish to thank the Financial Institutions Association of Bhutan (FIAB) for organizing this year’s CEO Forum VIII on December 5-7, 2011 and for hosting us in the tranquil and scenic city of Thimphu.

The CEO Forum is an annual international gathering for senior officers and executives of ADFIAP member-institutions and partners which has been, for eight straight years running, an effective venue for learning, best practice and idea exchange as well as networking among peers in the sustainable development finance space.

The theme of the conference, “Financing for Development in Pursuit of Gross National Happiness” is relevant as it is timely and it is but fitting that this year’s CEO Forum is held in Bhutan which has espoused and promoted the concept of gross national happiness or GNH.

The four pillars of GNH, namely, the promotion of sustainable development, preservation and promotion of cultural values, conservation of the natural environment, and establishment of good governance are essentially the same advocacies that ADFIAP has been pursuing and promoting for many years. Development finance institutions, by the nature of their sustainable development mandate, can learn more about GNH, its principles and its eight (8) general contributors to happiness – physical, mental and spiritual health; time-balance; social and community vitality; cultural vitality; education; living standards; good governance; and ecological vitality – and use these learnings to further enhance the DFIs’ development mission.

I thus invite all ADFIAP members, partners and other stakeholders to join us in Thimphu to meet, share and nurture our common purpose of seeking ways and means on how best we can all carry out our sustainable development mission in these challenging times and beyond.

I look forward to meeting you all in Thimphu!

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WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE HOST

 

MR. KIPCHU TSHERING
President: Financial Institution Association of Bhutan

On behalf of the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Financial Institution Association of Bhutan (FIAB), we would like to extend our warmest welcome to you to Bhutan, the land of Gross National Happiness (GNH).

Financial Institution Association of Bhutan (FIAB) was established in 2009 and comprises of members from all the financial institutions in the Bhutanese economy such as Bank of Bhutan (BOB), Bhutan National Bank Limited (BNBL), Bhutan Development Bank Limited (BDBL), Tashi Bank, Druk Punjab National Bank (DPNB), Bhutan Insurance Limited (BIL), Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan Limited (RICBL) and the National Pension and Provident Fund (NPPF). Hence, FIAB is the representative body of the financial sector in Bhutan with the responsibility to establish and maintain the best platform on which banking and financial groups can do competitive and profitable business. FIAB as a body is entrusted with the primary responsibility of interacting with various stakeholders on banking, Insurance, Pension and financial issues to ensure that the members maintain the best international practices. We are glad to host the 8th International CEO Forum of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) on the theme “Financing for Development in pursuit of Gross National Happiness” here at the Taj Tashi in Thimphu. The existence of ADFIAP (127 member institutions in 44 countries) as the focal point of all development banks and other financial institutions engaged in the financing of sustainable development in the Asia – Pacific region has contributed immensely to the member countries in the economic, environmental and social development. The chosen location (Thimphu, Bhutan) very well compliments the theme of the event as the concept of Gross National Happiness was initiated and promoted by Bhutan. Gross National Happiness is the frame work on which all economic development activities centers. It is even more timely, relevant and befitting that this year’s CEO forum is centralized on GNH and held in Thimphu because GNH is now recognized by the UN body as an important developmental goal.

We anticipate this conference attended by intellectuals from various countries and diverse backgrounds to come together on the same platform to meet, discuss, initiate, and exchange useful information, ideas and best practices and draw upon for effective cooperation and support among member Banks to realize our common objective during these uncertain times that all countries face today.

On behalf of the Financial Institution Association of Bhutan, we wish you all an enjoyable stay in our pristine country and wish the event will result to be a memorable and enjoyable one for all the ADFIAP members.

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