The Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific successfully conducted its Annual Meetings in-person in the Philippines last year, despite the uncertainties and constantly-changing global travel regulations at that point in time
Event brief
In October 2022, it was Manila’s turn to host the Annual Meetings of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP).
This event saw the largest gathering of CEOs, board members, and senior development bankers from 90 member institutions in 38 countries, and was also graced by representatives from institutional partners and networks outside the region.
Coinciding with the Association’s 45th founding anniversary, the Annual Meetings 2022 comprised the 93rd Board of Directors meeting, 25th ADFIAP General Assembly, and ADFIAP Awards 2022.
Event highlights
ADFIAP’s secretary-general Enrique Florencio shared that 200 delegates from 23 countries flew in for the Annual Meetings held at the Conrad Manila Hotel.
It was a good turnout considering that various countries at that point in time had varying and changing travel protocols and requirements.
In addition to the three Annual Meetings, delegates had the opportunity to attend thematic sessions featuring 26 speakers and panellists from various countries. These sessions offered insights on the roles of development financing institutions (DFIs) in climate change and transition finance; access to the financing of micro, small and medium enterprises; infrastructure, technology and agriculture development, and resource mobilisation and capital market development.
In between sessions, there were networking lunches and breaks designed for delegates to meet and reconnect in person after two years of hybrid Annual Meetings. The last in-person meeting was in Oman in 2019.
ADFIAP also put together a delegate-meets-delegate session to connect bank executives with each other. and with partner institutions to network and exchange ideas.
Also on-site was an exhibition of products from small and medium Filipino enterprises that were assisted by DFIs, a testament to the necessity of providing for this oft-overlooked segment of the business sector.
The Annual Meetings were followed by a Fellowship Day consisting of lunch at the Manila House Private Club in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), and a heritage tour that brought delegates to Intramuros and Fort Santiago, Rizal Park, National Museum of the Philippines and Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Challenges
Initially, ADFIAP was prepared to hold another hybrid meeting this year, but decided against it and chose to hold an in-person event, after assessing and monitoring the pandemic situation and easing of global travel restrictions.
Still, organisers made online links available to those who were unable to make the trip.
At that time, there were also still outbound travel restrictions for China delegates. As such, the Bank of China which had an office in Indonesia, asked a development banker to represent them at the meetings.
To hasten and ease the processing of delegates’ documents at Manila’s airports, organisers also requested for help from the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism.
Event 45th Annual Meetings of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP)
Organiser ADFIAP
Venue Conrad Manila Hotel
Dates October 26-27, 2022
Attendance 200
