Finance for All: Promoting Financial Inclusion in Central Africa

Brazzaville, Congo

March 23, 2015

This conference will bring together infrastructure finance practitioners and policymakers to discuss options for promoting financial inclusion in Central Africa. It is widely recognized that access to financial services is beneficial for pro-poor and inclusive growth, but widening financial access brings policy challenges and supervisory risks. This conference will look at how to widen financial access in the region responsibly. This conference is by invitation only.

PROGRAM
Monday, March 23, 2015

8:00

Registration

8:30

Welcoming remarks

Anne-Marie Gulde-Wolf, Deputy Director Africa Department, IMF

Lucas Abaga Nchama, Governor, BEAC

Gilbert Ondongo, State Minister, Minister of Economy, Finance, Planning, Public Portfolio and Integration, Congo

9:00

Group Photo

9:15

SESSION 1: FINANCIAL INCLUSION, GROWTH AND POVERTY REDUCTION—AN OVERVIEW

Chair: Gilbert Ondongo, State Minister, Minister of Economy, Finance, Planning, Public Portfolio and Integration, Congo

The nexus of financial inclusion, poverty reduction, and growth
Presenter: Philippe Aguera, World Bank
Presentation

Financial inclusion in the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS): Where do we stand?
Presenter: Boriana Yontcheva, Resident Representative, IMF
Presentation

The IMF’s Financial Access Survey and the Financial Inclusion Index
Presenter: André Mialou, Economist, IMF
Presentation

Open discussion

10:30

Coffee Break

11:00

SESSION 2: BANKS, RISKS AND SME/RETAIL FINANCING

Chair: Jules Bondombe, Vice Governor, Central Bank DRC

The challenge of SME financing
Presenter: Moustapha Fall, Managing Director, Ecobank Cameroon

Presenter: Tineyi Mawocha, Manager, Uwergo Opportunity Bank
Presentation

Presenter: Alphonse Nafack, Managing Director, Afriland First Bank
Presentation

Open discussion

12:30

Lunch

14:00

SESSION 3: THE ROLE OF MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS (MFI) AND OTHER INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THEIR SUPERVISION

Chair: Abbas Tolli, Secretary General, Regional Bank Supervision (COBAC)

Developing microcredit activities
Presenter: Dieudonné Ndinga Moukala, Director, Microfinance Network (MUCODEC), Congo
Presentation

The challenge of the sector’s supervision
Presenter: Ignace Nganga, Director, Payment System and Credit, BEAC
Discussant: Moussa Dao, Director, Orange Money, Cameroon
Discussant: Daniel Kalbassou, Association of Microfinance Institutions (ANEMCAM), Cameroon
Discussant: Justin Bomda, Microfinance Network (MC2), Cameroon

Open discussion

15:30

SESSION 4: PROMOTING FINANCIAL INCLUSION: BEST PRACTICES

Chair: Lucas Abaga Nchama, Governor, BEAC

The experience with policy implementation
Presenter: Kevin Kavugizo, Director Microfinance Supervision, National Bank of Rwanda
Presentation

Presenter: Kevin Kavugizo, Director Microfinance Supervision, National Bank of Rwanda

Presenter: Emilienne Raoul, Minister of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action and Solidarity, Congo
Presentation

Discussant: Anselme Imbert, Africa Advisor, French Treasury

Open discussion

16:30

Coffee Break

17:00

SESSION 5: ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION — LESSONS AND THE WAY FORWARD

Chair: Anne-Marie Gulde-Wolf, Deputy Director, African Department, IMF

Participants:
1. Léon Raphaël Mokoko, Minister Delegate to the State Minister, Minister of Economy, Finance, Public Portfolio and Integration, Republic of Congo
2. Célestin Yanindji, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Finance, CAR
3. Tchale Banata, Secretary of State, Ministry of Finance and the Budget, Chad
4. Lucas Abaga Nchama, Governor, BEAC
5. Aimée Laurentine Kanyana, 2nd Deputy Governor, Bank of the Republic of Burundi

Open discussion

18:15

Concluding remarks

Lucas Abaga Nchama, Governor, BEAC

18:30

Joint Press Conference

19:00

Cocktail