by Christopher Maggio - Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Events -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Azerbaijan Microfinance Association Investors Fair in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 7, 2009

Microfinance Event: Azerbaijan Microfinance Association Investors Fair in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 7, 2009

Event Name: Azerbaijan Microfinance Association Investors Fair

Location: Baku, Azerbaijan

Date: October 7, 2009

Event Description: The conference will focus on MFI governance strategy, financial risk management, client protection, opportunities to learn about innovative products, and a chance to access capital investors [1].

See Our Comprehensive Event Calendar Here: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events

Cost: AMFA Members: AZN 200 (USD 248)
non-AMFA Members: AZN 250 (USD 310)
International: USD 200

Summary of Event: The day will start with remarks from members of the Azerbaijan Microfinance Association, the Azerbaijani government, and business representatives. There will then be three panels on governance, risk, and client protection, respectively. Lastly, the Investors Fair will be a roundtable to discuss critical microfinance issues [2].

Background on Organizer: The Azerbaijan Microfinance Association (AMFA) was formed in 2001 from an informal group of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) who had been offering microfinance services to the poor since the mid-1990s. The Association now has 26 members the include and extend beyond NGOs [3]. The organization aims to “Develop a common agenda and action plan to advance the interests of the microfinance community, serve as a common voice for the microfinance community, pursue public and private funding for Association operations and sponsored activities, serve as a focal point for collection and dissemination of microfinance best practice information, document and publish Azerbaijan-specific microfinance information, organize meetings and conferences for the advancement of microfinance in Azerbaijan, conduct and promote other activities defined by the members, in the intervening period, prior to the formal constitution and registration of the Microfinance, association, the signatories to this memorandum agree to work together in the following ways to advance the development of the Association and to promote the wider development of micro-finance in Azerbaijan, send representatives with decision-making power to regular meetings of this informal network, commit available human resources to joint projects, including the process of registering the, association and/or fund-raising for the Association, commit reasonable levels of financial resources (e.g. membership dues) to the establishment and ongoing operations of the Association” [4].

Event Themes and Discussion Topics [2]:

Governance strategy on MFIs and Banks
• “This workshop will focus on discussion of the draft law on NBFIs which have passed the 1st reading in the parliament summer session and also address concerns of commercial Banks in respect to deposit insurance strategy”

How can Investors, Banks and MFIs successfully manage key financial risks in today’s Market?
• Financial risks affect participants at every step of microfinance chain, including investors, funders, MFIs and Banks. This session will focus on key financial risk factors and importance of risk strategy in the Banks and MFIs

Client Protection in practice
• This Panel will focus on discussion of following aspects: 1) what does client protection look like in practice and needs in concrete client protection measures to avoid incidents; 2) importance of social performance in the banks

Investors Fair (roundtable discussion)
• During this plenary, investors and MF practitioners will discuss following critical issues: assessment of the current state of capital markets for MFI’s and outlook for the future and major criteria’s of refinancing partners. Investors will be an opportunity to provide an advice to MFI’s- what they should focus on in order to improve their profile for attracting refinancing.

Who is Invited to Attend: Anyone who registers at http://www.amfaconference.com/index.php?lang=en

About the Presenters:
• Ms. Jhale Hajiyeva, Azerbaijan Micro-finance Association, Executive Director
• Kamran Abdullayev, Azerbaijan Micro-finance Association, Chairman
• Ali Hasanov, Azerbaijan Republic Deputy Prime-Minister, Head of the Republic Commission on International Humanitarian Assisstance
• Mr. Elman Rustamov, Chairman, Central Bank of Azerbaijan
• Mr. Ziyad Samedzade, Head of State Permanent Parliament Commission on Economic Policies
• Ambassador, United States Embassy
• Mr. Mamed Musayev, Chairman of the National Confederation of Enterpreneurs
• Mr. Altay Mustafayev, FINCA Azerbaija, General Counsel
• Mr. Gurban Sadigov, The apparatus of Cabinet of Ministers, Head of the department for problems of Refugees, IDPs, migration and work with international organizations
• Mr. Ziyad Samedzade, Head of State Permanent Parliament Commission on Economic Policies
• Mr. Rufat Aslanli, Chairman of the State Commettee for Securities of the Azerbaijan Republic
• Mr. Vadim Khubanov, Deputy Chairman of the Management board of CBA
• Mr. Azad Javadov, Executive Director of Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund
• Facilitator: Mr. Luco Paonessa, Triple Jump
• Mr. Elnur Agayev, Parabank, Head of the Treasury Department
• Triodos, TBD
• Mr. Christopher Falco, EBRD, Senior Banker
• Ms. Mariangela Pensa, Oikocredit
• Ms. Anastassiya Marina, IFC
• Mr. Chuck Waterfield, MicroFinance Transparency, CEO & Founder
• Ms. Khayala Hajibalayeva, Parabank, Quality Manager
• Mr. Francis Delaey, Head of Baku Resident of EBRD in Azerbaijan
• Mr. Luco Paonessa, Triple Jump
• Mr. Vincent Oswald, Blue Orchard
• Mr. David Macdougall, Blue Orchard
• Mr. Brad Swanson, DWM
• Mr. Cyrille Parant, Planet Finance
• Ms. Cholpon Kokumova, IFC, Associate Operations Officer
• Ms. Mariangela Pensa, Oikocredit

Online Registration Address: http://www.amfaconference.com/index.php?lang=en

For additional information, please contact:
Email: amfa@amfa.az

Submit Your Event: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events

Event Type: (Conference)
Event Starts: October 7, 2009, 8:30 am
Event Ends: October 7, 2009, 6:00 pm
Location: Hyatt Regency, Hotel Guba Ball Room,
Street: Bakikhanov Street No: 1, Baku, AZ1065
City/Town: Baku, Azerbaijan
Website: http://www.amfaconference.com/index.php?lang=en
http://www.amfaconference.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcate…
Organized By: Azerbaijan Microfinance Association

Christopher Maggio, Research Assistant

Bibliography:
[1] AMFA Investors Fair: http://www.amfaconference.com/index.php?lang=en
[2] AMFA Investors Fair Draft Agenda: http://www.amfaconference.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcate…
[3] AMFA History: http://amfa.az/sehife.php?lang=eng&page=0000
[4] AMFA Memorandum of Understanding: http://amfa.az/sehife.php?lang=eng&page=0005

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