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WELCOME REMARKS
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SESSION 2:
SELECTED ISSUES IN MICROFINANCE

While this morning’s session focused large banks and the banking system in general, this afternoon’s session brings the discussion down to the sector that directly impacts the poor, namely the microfinance sector.

The demand for microfinance is very large, but there have been problems in bridging the gap between the demand and the supply of microfinance. Because of the direct link between finance and poverty alleviation, ADB and other multilateral institutions as well as academic institutions like AIM are devoting research efforts to this important issue.

Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting
Chair


PAPER PRESENTER AND DISCUSSANTS:

A STUDY OF SELECTED MICRO-FINANCE INSTITUTIONS: A SEARCH FOR SUCCESSFUL MODELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY

Ronald T. Chua
Research Director; Faculty, Center for Development Management,
Asian Institute of Management

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INTEREST RATES ON MICROCREDIT

Nimal Fernando
Lead Rural Finance Specialist, Specialist Finance and Infrastructure Division,
Asian Development Bank

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Ashok Sharma
Senior Financial Economist, Governance,
Finance and Trade Division, South Asia Department,
Asian Development Bank

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Paolo Spantigati
Project Economist, Environment and Natural Resources Division,
South East Asia Department,
Asian Development Bank