200 top Asian bankers slate Manila meeting

Some 200 leading bankers from Asia will converge on Metro Manila when the Asian Bankers Association (ABA) holds its 20th general meeting and seminars on Oct. 6-8, 2003 at the RCBC Plaza in Makati City.

The meeting will be chaired by Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco, ABA chairman. This year’s conference and seminars, hosted by Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., is of utmost interest to Asian bankers because the three-day meeting will look at the challenges and issues that banks must address in the face of continuing globalization of markets and the increased competition that it brings for the region’s banking industry.

This year’s gathering, which is expected to draw the participation of some 200 top bankers from the region, will focus on the theme "Challenges and Competition in a Globalized Market."

Experts have been invited to share their perspective on how Asian banks should address these challenges and what they need to do to sharpen their edge, especially in terms of sounder risk management, better corporate governance, and comprehensive strategies.

Delegates to the ABA general meeting will have the opportunity not only to learn and share their views on the problems, challenges and difficulties that currently confront the region’s financial sectors, but also to touch base with their colleagues from other countries and explore possible areas of cooperation.

The ABA is the biggest grouping of banks and financial institutions in the Asia-Pacific region. It was organized in October 1981 primarily to provide a forum for advancing the cause of the banking and finance industry in the region and for promoting economic cooperation. Its membership currently includes 120 of the leading banks from some 25 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The ABA’s specific objectives include providing a venue for an exchange of views and information on banking opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region; facilitating the meeting of bankers in the region in an atmosphere of fellowship and friendship; encouraging joint activities that would enhance the role of its members in servicing the financial needs of their respective economic and in promoting regional development; and undertaking projects that will encourage trade, industrial, and investment cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

The ABA also holds annual general meetings and seminars, which serve as effective tools for bringing together top Asian bankers for exchanging information and ideas among the members. The themes of these meetings and seminars have focused on the identification or promotion of the role of banking and finance in regional cooperation or on the improvement of the banking industry in the region. ABA continues this tradition and maintains the quality of their contents by ensuring that they are always relevant and topical.

To ensure a substantive discussion of issues, ministers of finance or central bank governors, as well as international experts and eminent authorities on financial issues are invited to the meetings.