"What's Ahead for Asian Banking?"
29-30 November 2009
SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS
- The 26th ABA General Meeting and Conference was held in Manila, Philippines on October 29-30, 2009. Hosted by the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) at the RCBC Plaza, the gathering was attended by some 150 bank executives and bank regulators from 16 countries around the region.
26th ABA Conference
- The two-day event featured a Conference addressing the theme “What’s Ahead for Asian Banking” Leading economic and finance industry experts were invited to share their valuable insights on the current global economic and financial turmoil and the strategic response that Asian banks need to adopt to meet the challenges posed by the crisis. Delegates had the opportunity to exchange views with the speakers on the impact of the financial crisis on the Asian economies and the consequences for banks in the region; on the future direction of Asia’s capital markets; on strategies that can help Asian banks cope and succeed in these uncertain times; and on the changing regulatory environment and its impact on Asian banks.
- Philippine President Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered the Keynote Address, while the Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Amando Tetangco Jr. was the Luncheon Speaker.
42nd ABA Board of Directors Meeting
- The ABA convened its 42nd Board of Directors’ Meeting in Manila on October 29 The meeting discussed internal policy issues and took action on a number of important matters:
- The ABA approved the position paper entitled “Lessons from the Global Financial Crisis for Asia.” The paper reflects the views of ABA members on the global financial crisis, how it is affecting Asian banks and the region’s economies, and what measures governments and the private sector can take in response to the crisis.
- The ABA admitted two new members, including the Bankers Association of the Republic of China as Special Member, and the Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance as Associate Member.
- The ABA announced the holding of the IT Seminar 2009 on November 24, 2009 in Taipei. The seminar aims to provide an opportunity for ABA member banks and other industry players to exchange views and share experiences on how they can sustain and grow their businesses during one of the most testing periods for the financial industry.
- The ABA agreed to donate 1 million Philippine pesos to help those affected by the typhoons and floods that recently hit the Philippines.
Signing of MOU with SLBA and BAP
- The ABA signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA) and with the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP). The MOUs outlined possible areas of cooperation between the ABA and the SLBA, and between the ABA and BAP. ABA Chairperson Ms. Susan S. Chang signed the MOU on behalf of the ABA; SLBA Chairman Mr. Rajendra Theagarajah, Managing Director and CEO of Hatton National Bank signed on behalf of SLBA; and BAP President Mr. Aurelio Montinola III, President and CEO of Bank of the Philippine Islands, signed on behalf of BAP.