 ADFIAP/SME Bank Malaysia Study Tour Program on SME Finance Held
ADFIAP, in cooperation with SME Bank Malaysia, successfully conducted the ADFIAP/SME Bank Malaysia Study Tour Program on SME Finance last June 6 to 8, 2007 in Kuala Lumpur and Malacca, Malaysia with eight (8) participants coming from various member banks in the Pacific Islands (Bank of the Cook Islands); Small Industries Development Bank of India and Export-Import Bank of India; Seylan Bank (Sri Lanka); Oman Development Bank; and, Rural Development Bank (Cambodia) in attendance.
The 3-day study tour program aimed to expose participants to international best practices on SME finance by showcasing current approaches and strategies on the various issues that confront SME financing. The briefing sessions conducted by senior officers of SME Bank Malaysia and Bank Negara Malaysia as well as project visits to Mara Industrial Area in Kuala Lumpur and SME Bank Factory Complex in Malacca provided an excellent platform of exchange of ideas for the participants, project coordinators and speakers alike. The visit to the SME Advisory Units of both SME Bank Malaysia and Bank Negara Malaysia further enhanced the participants’ capabilities in providing better consultancy and advisory services for SMEs.
Malaysia is the fourth country selected by ADFIAP to run the program on SME Finance, the first one being piloted in Manila and co-organized with the Planters Development Bank last April 24 to 26, 2006; second one in Japan in cooperation with the Development Bank of Japan and the Japan Economic Research Institute in November 8 to 10, 2006 and the third one in Thailand in cooperation with SME Bank Thailand from December 13 to 15, 2006 under the SME-FI undertaking held in November 2004 in Kuala Lumpur during the CEO Forum.
ADFIAP’s support for SMEs dates back since its inception 30 years ago through capacity building programs on SME Financing as well as publications which feature various issues on SME Financing.
Dato’ Azmi bin Abdullah, Managing Director, SME Bank Malaysia extended a warm welcome to all the participants who paid a courtesy visit to him on the first day of the program. ADFIAP was represented by its Senior Executive for Membership, Ms. Sandy Lim.
ADFIAP Conducts Philippine Microfinance Study Tour Program
ADFIAP’s Events Team held a Study Tour Program on Microfinance in Manila, Philippines on March 26-30, 2007.
The five-day program was aimed at imparting a deeper knowledge and an actual observation on microfinance practices and activities as well as enabled the participants to learn the best practices of the major microfinance players in the country.
The program’s methodology includes executive briefings of various private and government conduits of microfinance funds, including NGOs and field visits to microenterprise clients of these institutions. Among the institutions visited by the participants were: Planters Development Bank, Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), People’s Credit and Finance Corporation (PCFC), Ahon sa Hirap Inc., Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) and Rural Bank Association of the Philippines. They also visited the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) and the Asian Development Bank.
The event was attended by eleven participants from India, Malaysia, Bhutan, and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
ADFIAP to Organize Two Study Tour Programs on Microfinance
Two study tour programs on microfinance are currently being planned by the ADFIAP Events Team, one to be held on March 26-30, 2007 in Manila, Philippines and the other on November 19-21 in Siemreap, Cambodia.
These five-day study tour programs aim to impart a deeper knowledge and an actual observation on microfinance practices and activities as well as enable participants to learn the best practices of the major microfinance players in the two countries (from wholesale lending to retail lending). The programs' methodology include executive briefings of various private and government conduits of microfinance funds, including NGOs, and field visits to microenterprise clients of these institutions. ADFIAP Events is ADFIAP’s business unit that specializes in organizing and managing specific and demand-driven activities aside from the formal training and credentialing courses offered by the ADFIAP Institute of Development Finance (IDF). These activities include conferences, symposia, exhibits & expos, study tours, on-the-job programs, etc. ADFIAP members who wish to attend these programs or be assisted by the ADFIAP Events Team may please contact Ms. Sandy Lim at
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International CEO Forum III of the Development Finance Institutions 2006
November 27- 28, 2006
Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Co-Organizers: ADFIM and ADFIAP
The International CEO Forum III of the DFIs 2006 are slated to be held at the Grand Plaza Parkroyal Hotel, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on November 27 and 28, 2006 with the theme “SME Banking: Structures, Dynamics and Challenges”.
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The event will be hosted by the Association of Development Finance Institutions of Malaysia (ADFIM) and co-organized with the Association of Development Finance Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) with the support of the Association of National Development Finance Institutions in Member Countries of the Islamic Development Bank (ADFIMI)
This year’s theme aims to focus on various country experiences of SME Banks from the various regions (ASEAN, Pacific Islands, East and North Asia, South Asia, Central and Southwest Asia, and Europe/North America). Y.B. Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Minister of Finance II of the Government of Malaysia, will deliver the Inauguration Address.
About 100 delegates from member-banks including local delegates, international partners and program sponsors are expected to attend the event. More updates will be posted at ADFIAP's website at
ADFIAP Holds On-the-job Training
ADFIAP organized a 3-day OJT on SMEs in Manila on April 24 to 26, 2006 for two participants each from member-banks, Asaka Bank of Uzbekistan and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). Planters Development Bank (PDB), a Philippine member-bank, hosted the SME program that consisted briefing sessions on the following:- SME Development in the Philippines - An Overview
- SME Lending - the PDB Experience
The program was capped by visits to project sites of borrower-clients which have qualified for PDB's stringent financing criteria. These projects are located in Marikina, Metro Manila and in San Pablo, Laguna:
1) Legacy Crafts Philippine Co., Inc. which makes Christmas décor, ornaments, bridal accessories, giftware and other decorative items;
2) Guaranfood Manufacturing Co., which produces banana catsup, hot sauce, cane vinegar, sweet pickle relish, pizza sauces, and all-purpose dressing and mayonnaise.
3) Milmar Distillery, Inc. which produces a local wine (lambanog).
For more details just visit the Gallery, for photos of participants and project visits.
SME Bank Thailand Organizes SME Conference
Member-SME Development Bank of Thailand, with ADFIAP as one of its supporting organizations, is organizing an SME Bankers Conference 2006 for APEC countries to be held on March 1-2, 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the theme "Sustaining Development through Banking Knowledge-Sharing."
Recognizing the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in country development and the crucial role that the banking and finance sector play in supporting SMEs, the conference focuses on the key elements of banking operations and other support mechanisms for sustaining the development and growth of the SME sector, using the available capacities and best practices of banks and financial institutions in Asia and the Pacific.
The conference will be attended by senior-level officers and managers of banks and financial institutions engaged in SME financing; government agencies providing financial & technical assistance to SMEs; and trade associations, chambers of industries & private organizations giving support services to SMEs.
CEO Forum on SMEs Held
ADFIAP, in partnership with the Association of Development Finance Institutions in Malaysia (ADFIM), and in cooperation with the Latin American Association of Development Financing Institutions (ALIDE) and the Association of National Development Finance Institutions in Member Countries of the Islamic Development Bank (ADFIMI), held the “International CEO Forum of Development Financing Institutions” with the theme, “Revving SMEs Up as the Engine of Growth” on September 12-13, 2005 at the Regent Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
It is the second year in a row that the ADFIAP and its co-organizers held the event in Kuala Lumpur. The first CEO Forum was conducted on August 10-12, 2004.
The primary objective of the Forum is to discuss and learn from each participating CEOs on the possible ways to improve the participation of the development financial institutions (DFIs) in assisting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in realizing their potential as engines of growth.
The occasion was also the venue where the SME Finance Initiative (SME FI) was launched. Essentially, the SME FI will be a knowledge and business network that will put together development banks and other specialized financial institutions to dialogue and address specific issues of financing SMEs. The SME FI will have three main elements, i.e., the CEO Forum, the SME FI Portal and the SMECenter. ADFIAP is initially working with ADFIM and the Geneva-based International Trade Center UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) to implement the Initiative through a Memorandum of Understanding.
The event was graced by Y. B. Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Takcop, Misnister Finance II of the Government of Malaysia.
SME Finance Initiative Tripartite Agreement Signed
Recognizing the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as the backbone for economic development and growth in the region, ADFIAP together with the Association of DFIs in Malaysia (ADFIM) and the Geneva-based International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC), have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to officially launch the SME Finance Initiative (SME/FI).
The signing ceremony was held in Kuala Lumpur during the CEO Forum on SMEs and was witnessed by Y.B.Tan Sri Nor Mohammed Yakcop, Minister Finance II of the Malaysian government and Ybhg. Datuk Zamani Abdul Ghani, Deputy Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, the country’s central bank.
As conceived, the SME/FI will be a knowledge and business network that will put together development banks and other specialized financial institutions to dialogue and address specific issues of financing SMEs. The SME/FI will have three main elements, as follows:
· The CEO Forum – is the dialogue cum business networking event where chief executives meet and learn from their own experiences as well as from experts of other organizations worldwide.
· The SME/FI Portal – will be the Initiative’s official website and is envisioned to be the “Knowledge Net on SME Finance” that will contain relevant resources (readings, training events, experts, etc.) on the subject.
· The SME Training & Advisory Center – will cover the required training programs and technical assistance on SME finance that will assist members to strengthen their capabilities in SME banking.
As part of the agreement, the partner-organizations will share responsibilities in realizing the above functions and activities, with ADFIM, ITC and ADFIAP handling the CEO Forum, the SME/FI Portal and the SME Training & Advisory Center, respectively.
SME/FI Activities Underway
Following the successful launching of the SME Finance Initiative (SME/FI) during the CEO Forum held in Kuala Lumpur on September 12-13 and the signing of the tripartite agreement among ADFIAP, the Association of Development Finance in Malaysia (ADFIM) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), various activities in the implementation phase of the project are on going.
The Regional Training and Advisory Center of the Initiative to be based in Manila is currently being firmed up in cooperation with Planters Development Bank, the major SME bank in the Philippines. The Center is envisioned to provide training and capacity-building programs to financial institutions engaged in financing SMEs, government ministries and agencies promoting the sector as well as NGOs actively assisting SMEs, using the experience and expertise of Planters Bank as well as other member-institutions of ADFIAP.
Simultaneously, the project’s official website which is to be the “Knowledge Net on SME Finance” that will contain relevant resources (readings, training events, experts, etc.) on the subject is currently being constructed.
The project partners have also developed a project logo of the SME/FI (see picture) and are currently producing its first visibility brochure providing the basic information on the project that will be shortly disseminated to all members and partner-organizations.
As conceived, the SME/FI will be a knowledge and business network that will put together development banks and other specialized financial institutions to dialogue and address specific issues of financing SMEs.
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