More than a hundred and sixty delegates from ADFIAP members, partner organizations, and guests convened in Conrad Hotel Manila Philippines from October 26 to 27, 2022 for the 45th ADFIAP Annual Meetings with the conference, themed “Responding to Global Issues and Trends: The Strategic Role of DFIs”, which is a post-pandemic push of the development finance institutions designed to facilitate an insightful, engaging, focused, and timely exchange of ideas, strategies, experiences, and practices in development finance amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic. During the event, the role of DFIs at the forefront of challenges and opportunities was underscored in the context of rapid changes in demography, markets, technology, regulatory regimes, and pandemic response.
The annual conference was graced by the virtual presence and delivery of the Inaugural Address by the Philippines Finance Secretary Dr. Benjamin Diokno; and the CEO of the European Organization for Sustainable Development (EOSD), Mr. Arshad Rab, who delivered the Keynote Address virtually, as well. Dr. Abdulaziz Mohammed Zahir Al-Hinai, CEO of Oman Development Bank and ADFIAP Chair formally opened the event and gave the welcome remarks.
This year’s conference theme revolved around four (4) sessions with various relevant topics that were 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 Climate Change and Transition Finance, Access to Finance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Infrastructure, Technology & Agriculture Development, Resource Mobilization, and Capital Market Development.
Among the speakers who shared fresh ideas and new insights during the conference include: ABE Yasuko, Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI), Cleaner Energy Future Initiative for ASEAN (CEFIA); Namita VIKAS, Founder & Managing Director austusESG; Todd SCHWEITZER, Founder & CEO Brankas Pte., Ltd.; Susan Roxas, WWF Philippines; Cecilia C. BORROMEO, CEO, Landbank of the Philippines; Hiroyuki HASEI, General Manager, Global Business Planning and Coordination Department, Development Bank of Japan; Emmanuel G. HERBOSA, President & CEO, Development Bank of the Philippines; Jean-Pierre MARCELLI, Executive Director of Operations Agence Francaise de Developpement; Anna MENDIOLA; President & CEO Federated States of Micronesia Development Bank(Moderator); Rajan Ashok UTTAMCHANDANI, Chairman & CEO, Esquire Financing, Inc.; TEMUUJIN Lkhagvasuren, Director General of Asset and Liability Management Department, Development Bank of Mongolia; Ramesh Nanjunda RAMAREDDY, Deputy Managing Director, Export-Import Bank of India; Noli MARTINEZ, Vice President, Product Development and Innovation, CARD-Mutually Reinforcing Institutions; Susana LAULU, CEO, Development Bank of Samoa (Moderator); Kao THACH CEO, Agricultural & Rural Development Bank of Cambodia (ARDB); Sergey Storchack, Senior Banker, State Development Corporation VEB.RF; Md. Golam Sarwar BHUIYAN, Managing Director, Industrial and Infrastructure Development Finance Company Ltd. (IIDC)/Bangladesh; Saud Minam, CEO, Fiji Development Bank (Moderator); Sylvi Gani, Director of Financing & Investment, PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (PTSMI)/Indonesia; Rolando VICTORIA, CEO, ASKI Group of Companies; Ian Briones, Senior Vice President, Philippine Guarantee Corporation; Izwan bin ZAINUDDIN. CEO, Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (Moderator)/Malaysia.
Other highlights of the Annual Meetings were the 93rd Board of Directors Meeting, the 19th Extraordinary Meeting of the General Assembly, the Delegate-Meets-Delegate Networking Session, the ADFIAP Sustainable Development Awards Night and the fellowship program, where the delegates were flown to the historic National Museum of the Philippines for a day tour.
The 46th ADFIAP Annual Meetings will be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan to be hosted by the Eurasian Development Bank on May 17-18, 2023.