First Ever Microfinance Forum in Myanmar

ADA participated in the first Myanmar Microfinance Forum, held on 5 November 2019 at Park Royal Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw.

The first Myanmar Microfinance Forum drew the largest gathering of stakeholders from Myanmar’s microfinance sector for a day of dialogue, knowledge sharing and networking organized by the Myanmar Microfinance Association (MMFA), under the guidance of the Ministry of Planning & Finance (MOPF). The forum was aimed at spurring discussions around accelerating further growth in Myanmar’s microfinance sector.

More than 350 attendees participated in the Forum including officials from MOPF, the Financial Regulatory Department (FRD), and the Banks and the Monetary Affairs Development Committee of the Pyithu Hluttaw, as well as representatives from MFIs operating in Myanmar, technology companies and development partners.

During the forum, presentations and discussions around the following topics were addressed:

• Responsible finance, Code of Conduct for MFIs and social performance
• Financial literacy and microfinance
• Microfinance industry developments in Myanmar and lessons from abroad
• Stories about successful microfinance product design
• The opportunities and challenges for investing in Myanmar’s Microfinance Sector
• The role of MMFA and its goal to support a stronger microfinance sector

The forum was supported by Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT), USAID and ADA.