Around one hundred chief executives, board members and senior officers of ADFIAP member-DFIs as well as representatives from ADFIAP partner-regional and international organizations convened at the Sokha Angkor Resort Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia from November 17 to 19, 2010 for the annual “by-invitation only” CEO Forum, now on its 7th edition, with the theme “Sustainable SMEs through Value Chain Financing”, organized in cooperation with ADFIAP member, the Rural Development Bank of Cambodia (RDB).

The event was formally opened by H.E. Keat Chhon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of the Royal Government of Cambodia. The host-bank’s Chairman and CEO, H.E. Son Koun Thor and ADFIAP Chairman and General Manager & CEO of DFCC Bank Sri Lanka, Mr. Nihal Fonseka, welcomed the delegates.

During the Forum proper, invited practitioners and experts made presentations and elicited discussions on topics like new sources of growth in the post financial crisis, value chain financing in agriculture, financing start-ups and franchising, innovative financing strategies and SME best practices and financing models.

Two pre-Forum events were also held, one on key performance indicators for DFIs, and the other on environmental cooperation for DFIs (please see related stories).

The CEO Forum was also an occasion for the ADFIAP Board of Directors to meet for the second time during the year to approve, among others, the Association’s budget, new members and new initiatives for 2011. The last day was allotted as a fellowship day which has afforded the delegates an opportunity to know each other and savor the local culture and sights in a more relaxing way.

The CEO Forum is an annual event that serves as a venue for chief executives and senior officers from ADFIAP member-institutions and partners to stay abreast of current issues and challenges in sustainable development. The next CEO Forum VIII will be held in Thimpu, Bhutan to be hosted by ADFIAP member-institutions there (please see related story).