The ADFIAP’s Institute of Development Finance (IDF), in cooperation with the UNDP in Uzbekistan, GTZ in Uzbekistan and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan conducted a Microfinance Study Tour Program (STP) for Policymakers of Uzbekistan on May 25-31, 2010 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event was attended by nine (9) delegates from the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, Central Bank of Uzbekistan, UNDP and GTZ. ADFIAP was represented by its Deputy Secretary General and concurrently Chief Executive of the IDF, Mr. Isidro A. Sobrecarey and Sr. Executive for Programs, Ms. Sandra Honrado.

This event, which was co-organized with MNY Consulting Sdn Berhad, represented by its Chairman & Managing Director Dato’ Md. Noor Mohammad Yusoff, provided the participants an effective understanding of the policy and regulatory frameworks, business principles, and best practices on the microfinance sector in Malaysia.

Through institutional visits, the program provided the participants the chance to directly interact with senior officers of the Bank Negara Malaysia, Ministry of Rural & Regional Development Corporation (MRDC), and the major microfinance organizations in Malaysia like the Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), Tekun Nasional, Bank Simpanan Nasional, Bank Rakyat, and Agrobank. In a project visit, the participants also had the opportunity to observe the actual operations of microfinance enterprises being financed by Amanah Ikhtiar.