Asia Pacific Microfinance Forum

ASIA PACIFIC MICROFINANCE FORUM

October 30-31, 2018

Singapore

Summary

Rethinking Microfinance: Explore the Latest Trends, Development Trajectories and New Perspectives on the APAC Microfinance Ecosystem

Growth in the Asia Pacific (APAC) Microfinance sector has been rampant and sharp differences emerge across the region. In 2017, the average global growth rate for the micro, small, medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) was 10-15%. And, the Asia Pacific region had the highest growth expectancy by 25-30%, albeit the quite diverse socio-economic contexts, market maturities, and regulatory dynamics.1

Today Microfinance sector has undoubtedly become more dynamic so that the financing requirements are more complex. MFIs are undergoing various transformations in their structure; adapting their business models into different types of financial institutions such as small banks. The need for a well-functioning regulatory framework is evident. Transparent management of funding and a better functioning client protection mechanisms are increasingly in demand. Moreover, innovations in the financial sector help Microfinance clients have greater outreach and wider product offerings. In turn, Microfinance sector is evolving from a niche segment to a mainstream investment topic.

Asia Pacific Microfinance Forum underlines the fact that: “It is time to rethink Microfinance.” It features keynote lectures, case studies, panel discussions and interactive networking sessions with the help of pioneering Microfinance experts, investors, banks and finance organizations to discuss the latest and pressing issues in the sector.

1 ResponsAbility Survey: Micro and SME Finance Market Outlook 2017

Day 1

KEYNOTE LECTURES: GAINING A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE APAC MICROFINANCE ECOSYSTEM

  • The role and potential of Microfinance in the APAC region
  • Impact Investing: combining financial returns with positive social impact
  • Measuring the short vs. long-term impacts of investments
  • Micro-entrepreneurship and support for small businesses
  • Enabling the healthy competition between MFIs and Banks
  • A regulatory framework to the APAC Microfinance; Similarities & Differences

INTERACTIVE GROUP DISCUSSION: MFIs MEET INVESTORS

  • 2 pre-selected groups will discuss the funding strategies in the Microfinance sector
  • MFIs: Strategies to attract investors in a competitive environment, adapting internal governance of MFIs in fast-changing Microfinance ecosystem, improving financial and organizational sustainability
  • Investors: Key evaluation criteria for investments, responsible investing, decision making, monitoring, and follow-up, assessing the long-term impacts of projects

THE LEADERSHIP TABLE

  • Microfinance project leaders will discuss their organizations’ business strategies as well as their success & failure stories with the Moderator
  • Lessons learned from the local experiences
  • Strategies to keep up with a fast-changing business environment
  • Improving internal governance of MFIs
  • Best-practice examples

OPEN SPACE SESSION

  • The method for participants to create their own face-to-face meetings
  • A chance to ask unanswered questions to specific speakers
  • Peer-supported advice on MFI’s most pressing business problems
  • Networking opportunities

Day 2

KEYNOTE LECTURES: STAYING COMPETITIVE IN A FAST CHANGING MICROFINANCE SECTOR

  • Impacts of recent financial innovations on the Microfinance industry
  • Helping MFIs stay competitive and innovative
  • Agri-finance: Financial services and products for smallholder farmers
  • Evaluating investments for their risks and benefits to microfinance clients
  • Credit scoring mechanisms, and strategies to increase portfolio quality
  • Trends, outcomes, and future scenarios

PRESENTATIONS: DIGITALIZATION & FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS – MEET THE ENABLERS

  • Fintech Trends; mobile money, crowd financing, big data, co-banking, etc.
  • New products and technologies in the sector
  • Digital opportunities in the emerging markets
  • The applications of blockchain in inclusive finance and supply chains

SPECIAL LECTURE & DISCUSSION ON CLIENT PROTECTION

  • The Smart Campaign “Keeping the Clients First” Approach
  • Mechanisms for complaint resolution
  • Strategies to mitigate the risks of over-indebtedness and drop-outs
  • Client protection principles: transparency, protection of data and fair treatment of microfinance clients
  • Building trust among Microfinance actors

Video

Speakers

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Claudio Viezzoli

Managing Director, SME Finance & Development
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), UK

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Sabine Spohn

Senior Investment Specialist
Asian Development Bank, Philippines

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Anneloes Mullink-Bos

Senior Investment Officer
FMO, the Netherlands

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Kate Hallam

Investment Manager, Financial Institutions Team
CDC Group, UK

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Begaim Sadyrova

Senior Investment Officer Asia & Pacific
Triple Jump B.V., Bangkok

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Debbie Watkins

Managing Director, APMEA
Fern Software, Singapore

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Katie Hoffmann

Director of the Responsible Inclusive Finance Facility, Southeast Asia
SPTF, USA

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Kapil Gupta

CEO & Director
Dvara Solutions, India

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Sultan Marenov

CEO & Managing Director
Hayman Capital Co., Ltd, Myanmar

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Pierrick Balmain

Head of Asia Pacific Business Development
BlueOrchard Finance Ltd, Singapore

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Swapnil Neeraj

Principal Investment Officer & Microfinance Lead, Asia
International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group, Singapore

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Pranav Kumar

Associate Director & Lead of MFI Investments, South and Southeast Asia
LeapFrog Investments, Singapore

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Eric Savage

Co-founder & CEO
Unitus Capital, India

Finance Leaders Fellow
The Aspen Institute, USA

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Siva Chidambaram

Investment Officer Asia & Pacific
Triple Jump B.V., Bangkok

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Dr. Ernie Teo

Chief Technology Officer
JEDTrade, Singapore

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Yuriko Hara

Manager
Crowdcredit, Inc., Japan

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Arun Kumar D

Head of Business Development
Dvara Solutions, India

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Santosh Nellayappan

Senior VP – Strategy, Products & Innovations
Sumeru Software Solutions, India

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Samir Agarwal

Director, Capital Markets & Investor Relations
Northern Arc Capital, India

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Maud Savary Mornet

Regional Director of Asia Pacific
responsAbility Investments AG, Hong Kong

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Marnix Monsfort

Manager, Financial Institutions Asia
FMO, the Netherlands

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Ashwin Mahabaleswara

Head of Debt Investments Asia, Africa & Middle East
DWM Asset Management, USA

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Prof. Annie Koh

Vice President, Office of Business Development
Singapore Management University

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Dr. Hema Bansal

Senior Director, South & Southeast Asia
The Smart Campaign & Accion International, India

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Sasidhar Thumuluri

CEO
Basix Sub-K iTransactions Ltd., India

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Cameron Goldie-Scot

CEO
Musoni Services, the Netherlands

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Christoph Eckart

Senior Fund Manager
C-QUADRAT Asset Management GmbH, Austria

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Matija Karaula

Managing Director – PH
Oradian, Philippines

Partners & Sponsors

Testimonials

“Special thanks to the Uniglobal staff for their kind assistance and good organization.”
— Deputy Chairman, Bank of Asia, Kyrgyz Republic

“I have been coming to the Global Microfinance Forum for the last few years. It’s a fantastic conference. It’s a great place to talk to funders, talk to partners and MFIs. The interaction and the questions are amazing, so I think there is a lot of learning for anyone involved in the industry.”

— Lead Consultant Learning Systems, LEAP

“I really enjoyed the conference not only as a moderator but also as a participant. The number of very knowledgeable speakers were huge, really great! It’s a great event like last year and a year before.”
— Head ING Microfinance, ING Bank


“I would like to express my appreciation of the event, in particular, the high organizational standard, the impressive quality of speakers, and a diverse body of participants. Well done to you and your colleagues at Uniglobal! It was my pleasure to be associated with your event.”

— Head of Microfinance Unit, EIB, Luxembourg

“The themes are always very well chosen so it’s forward-looking. It’s always something new to learn for us besides getting to know new players.”
— Senior Fund Manager at C-QUADRAT Asset Management GmbH, Austria

“Benefited from all the sessions. Good exposure particularly on the new developments in Microfinance.”
— Manager, Central Bank of Malaysia

“It’s a well-attended conference with various people from the industry like Microfinance Institutions, investors and FinTechs providing solutions to MIFs. So it is a pretty diverse crowd.”
— Partner Goodwell Investments, B.V., the Netherlands

Who Should Attend?

  • Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)
  • Local authorities
  • Impact investors
  • Multilateral & national development agencies
  • Commercial banks
  • Micro-banking & micro-insurance managers
  • Financial consultants
  • Support service providers
  • International finance organizations
  • Organizations providing a technical assistance to MFIs
  • Financial Innovation Labs
  • Micro-entrepreneurs
  • Microfinance researchers
  • NGOs

Why Should Experts Attend Our Event?

  • Meet the world’s market-leading companies in the sector
  • A unique platform to share know-how among Microfinance experts
  • Gain insights into the minute issues in the Interactive Discussion Sessions
  • Listen to the best-practice examples and the lessons learned from the local experiences
  • Grow your professional network, and discuss potential collaborations with the industry peers
  • Gain comparative perspectives on the region
  • Gain a competitive advantage in a rapidly changing business environment
  • Influence and help shape future trends in the sector
  • Find practical solutions for challenges your organization is facing

Where and When?

HOTEL FORT CANNING
11 Canning Walk Singapore 178881

Singapore

October 30-31, 2018

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ASIA PACIFIC MICROFINANCE FORUM

October 30-31, 2018
Singapore

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