About the Forum

The Asia microfinance industry continues to experience unprecedented growth despite the challenges of the recent financial crisis. Its relative strength throughout the economic downturn has highlighted the central role of microfinance in ensuring that poor and low-income people have access to reliable financial services. However, greater financial inclusion is dependent upon the microfinance sector increasing its capacity to provide innovative, well-structured and appropriate services and to scale up across all countries.

The Asia Microfinance Forum 2010 is convened by The Banking With the Poor Network (BWTP) and organised by The Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC), with the Citi Foundation as Lead Sponsor, and Hatton National Bank as Local Host. This milestone event will take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, October 12-15 2010 and will bring together leading microfinance practitioners, policymakers, financiers, academics and advocates as partners in achieving greater financial inclusion in Asia.

A draft version of the program is now available to download here. Please note that this program will be updated from time to time over the coming weeks. A general announcement will be made when the final program is available.

About Banking With The Poor Network

The Banking with the Poor Network (BWTP Network) is Asia's microfinance network that works towards building efficient, large-scale sustainable organisations, through co-operation, training and capacity building with the aim of achieving innovative, appropriate and demand-driven financial services for the poor. The Network is an association of a diverse range of microfinance stakeholders committed to improving the quality of life of the poor through promoting and facilitating their access to sustainable financial services.