Purpose

This conference will enable key policy makers in eight South Asian Countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) to discuss the draft report on Getting Finance in South Asia 2010, a study jointly prepared by ADB and WB. This then will provide a platform for exchanging knowledge and expertise in financial sector development.

Objectives

At the end of the workshop, participants will have:

• Discussed the analysis of the draft WB-ADB report of the strengths and weaknesses of the commercial banking sector, which dominates the financial system in South Asia Region, under 8 dimensions: access to finance, performance & efficiency, corporate governance, financial stability, capital market development, market concentration and competitiveness, payment systems development, and savings mobilization.
• Shared experience and insights on analytical frameworks developed by ADB and discussed how closer monitoring of detailed financial and economic indicators could help policy makers in decision making to foster financial stability and development.
• Identified capacity building priorities that could be supported by ADB and WB and opportunities for regional cooperation.

Expected outputs

• The final report that will be published after this conference will incorporate the participants' comments.

Target participants

Policy makers from the government (ministry of finance), central bank, securities and exchange commission, and stock exchange

Resource speakers

• Kiatchai Sophastienphong, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, SASFP, World Bank
• Anoma Kulathunga, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, SASFP, World Bank
• Ranee Jayamaha, Former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka
• Lei Lei Song, Senior Economist, Asian Development Bank
• Sabyaschi Mitra, Senior Economist, Asian Development Bank
• Satoru Yamadera, Economist, Asian Development Bank