CEO Forum to tackle relevance and sustainability of DFIs

CEO Forum to tackle relevance and sustainability of DFIs

The Chairman of the World Federation of Development Finance Institutions (WFDFI), Arjun Rishya Fernando on the 2^nd November 2016 commended the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) for hosting the WFDFI Chief Executive Officers Forum.

Speaking in Gaborone at a press briefing to mark the beginning of the CEO Forum, Mr. Fernando said the Forum, which is a joint initiative by the four regional associations, has been an avenue through which CEOs of development finance institutions (DFIs) discuss and share ideas on the latest trends and tools so as to advance the work and advocacy of DFIs in sustainable development.

He further said the Gaborone CEO Forum in particular will tackle current issues of relevance and sustainability of DFIs within the fast changing economic conditions.

“DFIs exist in the so called age of disruption in the context of technology innovation, shifts in demographics, and societal preferences, market realities as well as political, legal and regulatory challenges,” said Mr. Fernando.

The aim therefore, he said, is to further boost the role of DFIs by way of experience sharing and relationship building among DFIs regional associations, particularly now that the UN backed sustainability development goals (SDGs) 2030 are now in place and being implemented.

WFDFI

The WFDFI is the umbrella organisation of all the four regional continental associations, namely; the African Association of Development Finance institutions (AADFI); the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP); the Association of National Development Finance Institutions in Member Countries of the Islamic Development Bank (ADFIMI) as well as the Latin American Association of Development Financing Institutions (ALIDE). The WFDFI aims to be a global platform for DFI cooperation, knowledge sharing and institutional capacity building; and to better position DFI’s as specialised national financial institutions that provide long term and sustainable finance to strategic, priority and underserved sectors of the economy. The WFDFI was founded in June 13, 1979 in Vienna, Austria and was domiciled briefly in Madrid, Spain. In 1977, the WFDFI Board of Governors decided to rotate its Chairmanship and Secretariat amongst the four regional associations. The current Chairmanship and Secretariat of the WFDFI is held by Mr. Fernando, who is also Chairman of the ADFIAP.    

Mr. Arjun Rishya Fernando

Currently the CEO of DFCC Bank PLC, Mr. Arjun Rishya Fernando also holds executive positions in a number of ventures. He has over 30 years experience in the banking and financial services industry, holding executive and managerial positions in Sri Lanka and abroad. Prior to joining DFCC Bank, Mr. Fernando was Regional Head of Change Delivery HSBC Asia Pacific, based in Hong Kong covering 22 countries. He holds a BSc Engineering Degree and a MSc in Management. He is also an Associate of the Institute of Financial Studies (Chartered Institute of Bankers) UK. An avid tennis player, Mr. Fernando is a former Sri Lanka national champion and a gold medallist at the SAF Games in 1991. He captained the Sri Lanka Davis Cup Team from 1983-1990 and is the holder of 19 National Titles. In 1980 he was ranked number 220 in the world, the highest world ranking ever achieved in Sri Lanka to date.

For further clarity and enquiries regarding the recently held WFDFI CEO's Forum kindly contact:

Mr Leatile G. Bakwena

Communications Manager

Tel: +267 3170895

Cell: +267 72323286

Email; lbakwena@ceda.co.bw