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ADB Microfinance Week

In 1998, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2005 as the International Year of Microcredit to promote sustainable microfinance services and inclusive financial systems. ADB has carved out 14-18 March 2005, as a microfinance week to observe the International Year and promote sustainable financial services for the poor in the Asia and the Pacific region.

Four events are planned for the ADB Microfinance Week.

• Regional Conference on Expanding the Frontiers of Commercial Microfinance ADB Headquarters, Manila, Philippines: 14-15 March 2005, ADB Auditorium, Zones A-C. ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda will deliver the welcoming remarks.



• Asian Regional Multistakeholder Consultation Meeting on Building Inclusive Financial Sectors for Development (in coordination with United Nations Capital Development Fund and Financing for Development Office of the Department of the United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs), 16 March 2005, ADB Auditorium, Zones A-C.



• Training Workshop on the "Role of Governments in Microfinance" (in coordination with the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), 17 March 2005, ADB Auditorium, Zones C-D.



• Philippines National Forum on Housing Microfinance (in coordination with the Microfinance Council of the Philippines), 18 March 2005, ADB Auditorium Zones C-D.
  Contact: Michael Lindfield, Senior Housing Finance and Urban Development Specialist, Asian Development Bank, Email: mlindfield@adb.org

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• To observe the International Year of Microcredit 2005 by providing a forum for a broad range of microfinance stakeholders in the region to share knowledge and good practices on commercial microfinance and current developments in the microfinance industry and improve aid effectiveness of microfinance



• To promote a sustainable microfinance industry in the region

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• reaffirm ADB's commitment to promote inclusive financial sectors in its developing member countries
• share knowledge on recent developments in the microfinance industry in the region and discuss the future of commercial microfinance
• discuss what central banks can do to promote microfinance
• examine why financial exclusion is widespread in many developing countries
• discuss the role of social investors and the private sector commercial banks in microfinance development, and
• provide insights on how to expand the frontier of commercial microfinance.

• provide a wide range of microfinance stakeholders to discuss and express their views on how financial exclusion can be minimized and inclusive financial sectors can be built to promote development.

• assist donor staff to improve their skills in providing assistance to governments for microfinance development.

• provide insights on housing microfinance developments in general and in the Philippines in particular and provide an opportunity for practitioners and policy makers in the housing microfinance sector to improve their knowledge on policies and operations.

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• governors and senior officials of central banks, senior policy makers, microfinance practitioners including NGOs and private sector bankers, researchers and academics.



• representatives of the World Bank, USAID, United Nations Capital Development Fund, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor and others.

Participants at the housing microfinance forum will include practitioners and policy makers responsible for housing microfinance in the Philippines.

Participation in the training workshop for ADB staff is through nominations by their supervisors. For staff of other funding agencies, participation is through applications to CGAP.

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• ADB to Host Regional Conference on Expanding Commercial Microfinance



• Commercializing Microfinance is Key to Expanding the Industry, Regional Conference Told

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