Address to Workshop on Trade & Services on liberalisation of financial services in Pacific Island countries.
FDC Chairman Bob Lyon, recently presented at a workshop on why Pacific Island countries must not only focus on the deregulation and freeing up of trade, but in the future, deregulation of cross-border capital flows must receive an equal focus.
National Development Bank: “Well-positioned at the Forefront of Sustainable Rural Finance in PNG”
The National Bank Ltd. (NDB) has emerged as a very competitive new player in the microfinance market in Papua New Guinea. After the success of its pilot scheme in 2006 the Bank launched the roll out of its Microfinance Business Units (MBU) in 2007.
PNG Institute of Banking and Business Management (PNGIBBM) and the Microfinance Competence Center (MCC) Newsletter
PNGIBBM and MCC have recently released a copy of their latest newsletter which provides an update on the training unit. This issue provides details on scholarships, distant learning package, internet café, financial education, associate and corporate membership.
VANWODS Delivers Microfinance Services to Pacific Supplies Staff
“Working poor” is an alien term as there is no poverty, only “hardship” in Vanuatu. MICROPEPS is a new VANWODS product that engages those who may be fully employed but still endure hardship” the VANWODS Managing Director John Salong stated at the signing of an MOA between VANWODS MFI and Pacific Supplies on 4th June 2008.
The Manager of Pacific Supplies, Mr Michael Calanan was happy to welcome the budding relationship between VANWODS and Pacific Supplies flanked by Mrs Leith W. Katipel and Mr Terry Leodoro. The Pacific Supplies representatives signed and exchanged contractual documents with the VANWODS Team. The low key ceremony was marked by a cake brought by VANWODS and shared among the Pacific Supplies Staff.
World Education Australia: Book Launch
In May, World Education Australia held its annual networking event, during which guests heard about the successes of WEAL’s programs over the past year, and learned about its plans for the upcoming year. The event saw the launch of WEAL CEO Guy Winship’s new book “Conversations with Practitioners – The Challenges of Market-led Microfinance”. Guy was commissioned by the UN in 2002 to talk with CEOs and directors of 17 leading microfinance institutions in Africa and South Asia to find out what it takes to be successful in today’s microfinance market.
Ms Luse Kinvuwai, Chair of the Microfinance Pasifika Network, has recently been invited to participate at the Asia-Pacific Regional Microcredit Summit. Ms Kinvuwai will be involved in the session entitled “Challenges in Microfinance, both in Agriculture and in Areas with Low Population Density.”
Mr Greg Casagrande from South Pacific Business Development, also a network member, will also be attending the event, as a panellist on the Governance: Organizing, Developing, and Empowering the Board to Oversee the MFI. The event will be held in Bali, Indonesia from July 28-30, 2008. For more information on the conference, please visit www.inamicrocreditsummit.org.
The host of the first session will be Mr Gure Huk from the PNGIBBM - Microfinance Competence Centre. Mr Huk discussion will focus on the Microfinance Competence Canter's training courses, target groups and ongoing projects. Mr Huk will be available to field any questions and/or comments on this topic from both Microfinance Pasifika Members and the general public.
The discussion will start on the Wednesday 13th August, 2008. To accommodate different time zones within the Pacific, questions and comments for the discussion will be accepted throughout the day. Mr Huk as his time permits will respond to participants who have posted on the discussion forums under the topic heading.
The online discussion sessions will be hosted in the Pacific Resource Centre for Microfinance in the Public Microfinance Pasifika Discussion Forums.
To post questions and comments on the discussion forum it is essential that you register for an account at: http://www.microfinance-pasifika.org/request-an-account.html and then log in to use the discussion forums.