Secretary General Report

Bangkok, Thailand – FinPower National Microfinance Development Forum

The National Microfinance Development Forum was conducted in Bangkok, Thailand on November 22, 2010, hosted by Bank of Thailand. A total of 51 participants from the Bank of Thailand, BAAC, the Cooperative League of Thailand, UN‐FAO, ACCU, Krung Thai Bank, other commercial banks, government agencies, international development partners and private sector attended the forum.

The national forum was intended to share the microfinance policy environment and regulatory framework of the Philippines as well as determine the status of microfinance in the host country.

The main speakers at the opening ceremony were Mr. Chitkasem Pornprapunt, Division Executive, Financial Institutions Strategy Department, Bank of Thailand, and Mr. Benedicto S. Bayaua, former Secretary General, APRACA (now Consultant).

FinPower commissioned Mr. Eduardo C. Jimenez and Mr. Gerardo Butardo, Consultant and Deputy Director, respectively of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and Mr. Kim Vada, Deputy Director General, National Bank of Cambodia, who shared their country’s microfinance policy environment and regulatory framework. Speakers from local institutions and international development partners were Mr. Taweesak Manakul, Microfinance Expert. Ministry of Finance, Thailand, Mr. Ranjith Hettiarracchi, Executive Director, Asian Association of Confederations of Credit Unions, Mr. Jirasak Malaengpoothong, Deputy Director, Personal Loan Department, BAAC and Ms. Nisanard Yothasmut, Vice‐President, Krung Thai Bank,

Dhaka, Bangladesh – FinPower National Microfinance Development Forum

The National Microfinance Development Forum was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on November 22, 2010, hosted by Bangladesh Bank. A total of 75 participants from financial institutions, commercial banks, government agencies, MFIs, NGOs and the private sector joined the forum.

The national forum was likewise intended to share the microfinance policy environment and regulatory framework of the India as well as determine the status of microfinance in the host country.

Mr. Murshid Kuli Khan, Deputy Governor, delivered the inaugural address, on behalf of the Governor of Bangladesh Bank. Mr. Won‐Sik Noh, APRACA Secretary General delivered his welcome remarks and introduction to the forum.

FinPower commissioned Mr. B.P. Vijayendra, Chief General Manager, Reserve Bank of India as international expert who shared his country’s microfinance policy environment and regulatory framework. Speakers from local institutions were Mr. S.M. Moniruzzaman, General Manager, Bangladesh Bank, Mr. Khandakar Mazharul Haque, Executive Vice Chairman, MRA, Mr. Masud Ahmed Khan, General Manager, Bangladesh Krishi Bank and Mr. Syed M. Hashemi, Director, BRAC Development Institute.

Two panel discussions were led by Mr. Md. Fazlul Kader, General Manager, PKSF and Dr. Toufic Ahmed Choudhury, Director General, BIBM, respectively. The forum was officially closed by Mr. Murshid Kuli Khan.

Technical Supports

Technical support activities followed each national forum in Bangkok and Dhaka. Selected international experts who attended national forums as speakers visited major microfinance related institutions including Government agencies and conducted dialogues.

Mr. Jimenez and Mr. Butardo from the Philippines conducted dialogue on March 23‐25 2010 with the Bank of Thailand, BAAC, Krung Thai Bank, Cooperative League of Thailand and one commercial bank.

Mr. B.P. Vijayendra, from Reserve Bank of India likewise conducted dialogue on March 23‐25 2010 with the following officers and experts in Bangladesh. Among them were Prof. Muhammed Yunus, Managing Director, Grameen Bank, Mr. Md. Shazzad Hossoin, Director, Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA), Md. Abdul Awal, Executive Director, Credit and Development Forum, Mr. S.N. Kairy, Director, BRAC, Mr. Md. Mukter Hussain, Managing Director, Bangladesh Krishi Bank,Mr. Md. Shafiqual Haque Choudhury, President, ASA, Mr. M. Mosharrof Hossain, Finance Director, BURO Bangladesh, and Mr. S.M. Moniruzzaman, General Manager, Bangladesh Bank.

Kathmandu, Nepal – Pilot Testing on Credit Production and Marketing Linkage

FinPower commissioned Mr. Kungwal Niaumsuwan, Director of Business Supporting for Financial Inclusion and Mr. Surasak Sompadung, Assistant Director of International Cooperation Division of BAAC, Thailand to act as international experts to pilot test the BAAC Credit Production and Marketing Linkage with Nepal Agricultural development Bank Ltd. on December 13-16, 2010

FinPower Publications

FinPower published and circulated the following three publications to APRACA members during December 2010.

Status of Microinsurance in Southeast Asia: (The Cases of Cambodia, the Philippines and Vietnam)

Completion Report : FinPower National Forum in Uzbekistan on Creating a Conducive Microfinance Policy Environment and Regulatory Framework

Completion Report : FinPower National Forum in Bhutan on Conducive Microfinance Policy Environment and Regulatory Framework