Asia Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association Ex-Co to meet in Colombo on Monday
Friday, 28 November 2014 00:51
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The 65th Asia Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA) Executive Committee meeting will be held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo, from 1 to 3 December 2014. This year, the Executive Committee will be gathered under theme ‘Adaptation and Mitigation of the Impact of Climate Change on Rural and Agricultural Finance’.
Since its establishment in the year 1977 this regional association has been promoting cooperation and facilitating mutual exchange of information and expertise in the field of rural finance with the goal to alleviate poverty in the Asia Pacific region. As at today a total of 69 institutes in 21 countries are affiliated with APRACA as its members.
Bankers to the nation, Bank of Ceylon together with Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Peoples Bank, National Development Bank, Union Bank, Sanasa Development Bank, and Rural Development Bank is privileged to host APRACA Executive Committee meeting in Sri Lanka.
BOC General Manager and APRACA Executive Committee member D.M. Gunasekara stated, “Sri Lanka is privileged to host APRACA for this year’s event. This program will be sharing knowledge and information with regard to this year’s theme which is a concern to all banks and financial institutions that provide credit facilities to agricultural sector.”
“This would be a great opportunity for all banks and financial institutions in Sri Lanka who lend to the rural and agricultural sector to enhance their expertise and exposure in the field. At the same time this event provides a platform to participating local banks and financial institutions to expand or strengthen their network with other similar foreign institutions in the region,” added Gunasekara.
APRACA is a non-government international organisation involving central banks, agricultural and development banks, commercial banks, apex organisations, federations of financial institutions and rural development institutions in the region who are involved directly in agricultural credit and rural development. Its headquarters is situated in Bangkok, Thailand. APRACA’s training and research arm CENTRAB- Center for Training and Research for Agricultural Banking was established in 1989 in Manila, Philippines with the aim of formalising existing informal arrangements to stimulate and facilitate cooperation in the area of training and research and encourage knowledge and understanding of financial, monetary, banking and economic development issues relating to agriculture and rural areas.
This executive committee meeting will enhance the relationship among APRACA members and the member financial institutions in Sri Lanka. Also, it will be a good opportunity to share best practices among the member institutions on micro financing and SME development.
