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
Speakers
Claudio Viezzoli
Managing Director, SME Finance & Development
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), UK
Pierrick Balmain
Head of Asia Pacific Business Development
BlueOrchard Finance Ltd, Singapore
Maud Savary Mornet
Regional Director of Asia Pacific
responsAbility Investments AG, Hong Kong
Claudio Viezzoli
Managing Director, SME Finance & Development
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), UK
Pierrick Balmain
Head of Asia Pacific Business Development
BlueOrchard Finance Ltd, Singapore
Marnix Monsfort
Manager, Financial Institutions Asia
FMO, the Netherlands
Anneloes Mullink-Bos
Senior Investment Officer
FMO, the Netherlands
Pranav Kumar
Associate Director & Lead of MFI Investments, South and Southeast Asia
LeapFrog Investments, Singapore
Ashwin Mahabaleswara
Head of Debt Investments Asia, Africa & Middle East
DWM Asset Management, USA
Anneloes Mullink-Bos
Senior Investment Officer
FMO, the Netherlands
Eric Savage
Co-founder & CEO
Unitus Capital, India
Finance Leaders Fellow
The Aspen Institute, USA
Prof. Annie Koh
Vice President, Office of Business Development
Singapore Management University
Begaim Sadyrova
Senior Investment Officer
Triple Jump B.V., Bangkok
Siva Chidambaram
Investment Officer Asia & Pacific
Triple Jump B.V., Bangkok
Dr. Hema Bansal
Senior Director, South & Southeast Asia
The Smart Campaign & Accion International, India
Debbie Watkins
Managing Director, APMEA
Fern Software, Singapore
Dr. Ernie Teo
Chief Technology Officer
JEDTrade, Singapore
Sasidhar Thumuluri
CEO
Basix Sub-K iTransactions Ltd., India
Katie Hoffmann
Director of the Responsible Inclusive Finance Facility, Southeast Asia
SPTF, USA
Yuriko Hara
Manager
Crowdcredit, Inc., Japan
Cameron Goldie-Scot
CEO
Musoni Services, the Netherlands
Kapil Gupta
CEO & Director
Dvara Solutions, India
Arun Kumar D
Head of Business Development
Dvara Solutions, India
Christoph Eckart
Senior Fund Manager
C-QUADRAT Asset Management GmbH, Austria
Sultan Marenov
CEO & Managing Director
Hayman Capital Co., Ltd, Myanmar
Santosh Nellayappan
Senior VP – Strategy, Products & Innovations
Sumeru Software Solutions, India
Matija Karaula
Managing Director – PH
Oradian, Philippines
Samir Agarwal
Director, Capital Markets & Investor Relations
Northern Arc Capital, India
Sponsors/Partners
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