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Conference on Banking at the Bottom of the Pyramid

This conference aims to encourage discussion among the best experts and practitioners on the significance of bank downscaling or banking at the bottom of the pyramid. Downscaling is one of the most interesting developments taking place in the commercial microfinance industry.

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At the end of the conference, participants will have:

• familiarized themselves with business strategies at the bottom of the pyramid including success factors for bank downscaling and adaptation of bank systems and lending procedures
• learned from the lessons of the experience from Asia, Africa, and Latin America
• assessed opportunities and issues facing banking at the bottom of the pyramid

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Reports on experiences and opportunities for banking at the bottom of the pyramid.

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Participation is by invitation only from the academe and executives of banking institutions interested in banking at the bottom of the pyramid.

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ADB co-sponsored, with Calmeadow Foundation, Citi Foundation, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, and the International Finance Corporation, the Conference on Banking at the Bottom of the Pyramid on 20-21 September 2007 at the ADB Headquarters in Manila.

The conference encouraged discussion among the best experts and practitioners on the significance of bank downscaling or banking at the bottom of the pyramid. Downscaling is one of the most interesting developments taking place in the commercial microfinance industry. The conference participants were able to familiarize themselves with business strategies at the bottom of the pyramid including success factors for bank downscaling and adaptation of bank systems and lending procedures. Particpants also learned from the lessons of experience from Asia, Africa, and Latin America and assessed opportunities and issues facing banking at the bottom of the pyramid.

View the presentations of conference resource speakers.