Microbalkans 24

Sarajevo, September 2024

MOTIVATION LETTER

Dear partner,

As the President of the Association of Microcredit Organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina – AMFI, I am writing to you on behalf of our members and the microcredit organizations of the Western Balkan countries.

We seek your support to raise the visibility and enhance the efficacy of the microcredit sector, recognizing its significant role in both Bosnia and Herzegovina and the broader Western Balkans region.

AMFI is a registered non-governmental and non-profit organization representing both the Federation of BiH and the Republic of Srpska. Our mission is to advocate for the interests of our members and foster the development of the microcredit sector.

The concept of an MFI Alliance for the Western Balkans has emerged, and as a foundational step towards regional cooperation, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed during our inaugural regional conference. This event is scheduled to take place in Sarajevo from October 31 to November 01, 2024.

The Alliance aims to unify the MFI sector across the Western Balkans, creating opportunities for a more favorable business environment. This collaboration will support microcredit institutions and help establish robust relationships with regulators and international bodies, thus facilitating additional capital, financing guarantees, technical support, and other essential resources that are often inaccessible in our region but available in EU countries. According to data from central banks and regulatory agencies, over 120 non-depository institutions operate in the Western Balkans.

The conference will attract a diverse group of participants, including:

CEOs and directors from MFIs, non-bank financial institutions, ethical and traditional banks.
IT and digital transformation leaders within the financial sector.
Legal and compliance officers focusing on regulatory aspects of digital finance.
Representatives from regulatory bodies and government agencies. Fintech startups and technology solution providers.
Academics and researchers specializing in financial technology and digital innovation.

Conference Objectives:

Knowledge Exchange: Facilitate the sharing of insights, experiences, and best practices in digital financial services with an emphasis on ESG indicators, particularly women's empowerment and renewable energy use.
Regulatory Collaboration: Promote dialogue between regulators, financial institutions, and technology providers to foster a supportive regulatory environment for innovation.
Innovation and Solutions Showcase: Highlight the latest advancements in fintech, including mobile banking, digital payments, cybersecurity, and more, offering a glimpse into the future of finance.
Networking and Partnerships: Provide valuable networking opportunities for participants to form partnerships and collaborations to drive digital transformation in the region.

The conference topics support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.

We anticipate approximately 200 participants at the conference.

The expectations and benefits for the institution:

Raise public awareness of the positive impact of the microcredit sector on active clients in the Western Balkans.
Strengthen the sector's image by highlighting its importance for societal development through regular philanthropic activities.
Enhance sector visibility as a vital area for economic development, focusing on supporting self-employment and job creation in micro and small businesses for vulnerable categories, particularly women.
Emphasize the microcredit sector's role in increasing financial inclusion and social responsibility.
Create a more favorable business environment supporting microcredit institutions in the Western Balkans.
Promote sustainable development awareness.

The regional conference will address critical issues for the microcredit sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans.

With this letter, we appeal to your esteemed organization to support the first regional conference organized by AMFI and the Alliance of MFIs from Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Serbia this year.

We believe your esteemed institution will support us to the maximum extent possible, with the remaining funds to be covered by the Associations and MFIs of the Western Balkan Countries.

Thank you for your long-term cooperation and support of the microcredit sector.

Thank you for your consideration and support.

Sincerely,

Elma Zukić

President

Conference Info

Activity: Regional Conference Date: October 31 – November 01, 2024

Location: Hotel Hills, Sarajevo https://hotelhills.ba/

Conference description:

This conference represents an important event not only for the microcredit sector in the region but also beyond. The goal is to bring together experts from different fields to discuss key topics such as digitization, ESG initiatives with a focus on the energy transition and the role of women in the sector, and the indispensable regulatory framework.

The conference will provide an opportunity for knowledge exchange, networking and establishing new partnerships.

The leaders of the panel and the round table and the presentation of the conclusions of the first regional conference will be representatives of the countries of the Western Balkans.

At the regional Conference, the MOU will be signed by the representatives of the Association of Western Balkan countries and individual members who do not have an established Association. The MOU would represent an outline of common goals and mutual cooperation.

Objective of the conference:

The aim of this conference is to bring together experts from the microcredit sector of ZB and stakeholders from the region and abroad to discuss the key topics that shape the future of the sector.

The conference aims to:

Improvement of cooperation: Creation of a platform for association of associations of microcredit institutions of Western Balkan countries in order to act jointly towards stakeholders, European funds and the European Commission.
Knowledge exchange: Sharing insights, experiences and best practices in digitization, ESG initiatives and women's inclusion.
Regulatory Dialogue: Promoting dialogue between regulators, financial institutions and technology providers to support regulatory innovation.
Networking and partnerships: Facilitating networking and forming partnerships that can drive further digital transformation and growth of the microcredit sector in the region.

Target audience:

The conference is intended for a wide range of participants, representatives of regional MFIs : Management and Supervisory Boards of MFIs, CEOs and directors of MFIs, senior and middle management of MFIs and experts in the fields of: IT and Cyber Security, ESG, lawyers; AM, business compliance, PR and marketing, Finance and reporting as well as representatives of ethical banks .
Representatives of Central Banks, Ministry of Finance (state and entity level) and representatives of regulatory bodies of state/entity agencies. In addition to competent representatives of the Ministry of Finance and other competent Ministries (Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Trade…)
It also widens the range of stakeholders from various fields, representatives of non-governmental and non-profit organizations, international institutions, traditional banks, fund providers of MFI services, leaders of the IT sector, supporters of EE and ET and advocates of digital transformation within the financial sector. fintech and technology solution providers, academics and research companies, specializing in financial technologies and digital innovation.

Institutional sponsors:

Banking Agency of the Republika Srpska and
Banking Agency of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Media sponsors: TBD

Expected number of guests: approx. 200

Accomodation: Accommodation is not included in the price of the conference registration fee. Accommodation recommendations: https://hotelhills.ba/ and https://www.hotel-hollywood.ba/.

Conference Agenda

Day 1 - October 31, 2024

09:00 – 10:00

Registration of participants

Registration, Networking and welcome coffee

10:00 – 11:00

Opening of the Conference Opening address of the host

Address of Association representatives of Associations/Organizations

Each organization/association of the countries of the Western Balkans will have approximately 10 minutes for presentation.

11:00 – 12:00

Panel 1: Digitization in the microcredit sector (Draft)

Description: Digitization represents a key step towards the modernization of the microcredit sector. The financial sector is at an inflection point, with digital technologies reshaping the landscape at unprecedented speed. The rise of fintech, the adoption of blockchain technology and the emergence of artificial intelligence and machine learning are not just trends, they are becoming the backbone of financial services around the world. This transformation offers enormous opportunities to improve accessibility, efficiency and security, but also presents challenges, including regulatory compliance, cyber security threats and the need for digital literacy among consumers and institutions. The Western Balkans, like many regions, is undergoing this digital transformation with varying degrees of adoption and innovation among countries. Financial services in the region, including MFIs, non-bank financial institutions and traditional banks, are at different levels of digital integration. This diversity underscores the need for a common approach to harness digital opportunities and address common challenges. The panel will discuss current digital trends, implementation challenges and future steps towards full digital transformation.

Duration: 45 minutes for presentations + 15 minutes for Q&A

12:00 – 13:00

Panel 2: ESG in the microcredit sector, market requirements (Draft)

Description: ESG initiatives are becoming increasingly important in the financial sector, including microcredit organizations. The focus on the energy transition enables these MFI to contribute to sustainable development, reducing the carbon footprint and improving energy efficiency. This panel will explore how ESG principles can be integrated into the business strategies of microcredit organizations, providing benefits not only to the environment but also to the social community.

Duration: 45 minutes for presentations + 15 minutes for Q&A

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch and networking

14:00 – 15:00

Panel 3: Women in the microcredit sector (Draft)

Description: The role of women in the microcredit sector is essential for economic development and social inclusion. Supporting women to become entrepreneurs and leaders within the sector can lead to increased economic opportunities and reduced poverty. The panel will focus on the challenges women face, as well as strategies for their empowerment and promotion within the microcredit sector.

Duration: 45 minutes for presentations + 15 minutes for Q&A

14:30 – 15:00

Coffee break

15:00 – 16:00

Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Formal signing of the agreement between the members, which will strengthen cooperation and joint efforts in the improvement of the microcredit sector

19:00 – 22:00

Gala dinner

Formal dinner with cultural and artistic program, opportunity for additional networking and informal exchange of ideas.

Day 2 – November 01, 2024

09:00 – 12:00

Round table: Regulatory framework and positive practices from around the world (Draft)

Description: A better understanding and improvement of the regulatory framework is crucial for the stability and growth of the microcredit sector. This roundtable will bring together regulators and experts to discuss current legislative challenges, positive practices and possible improvements that can support the development of the sector in line with international standards. Special attention will be devoted to the exchange of experiences and learning from the successful practices of other regions, providing valuable insights and inspiration for the improvement of local strategies.

Duration: 1 hour for presentations + 2 hours for Q&A (MFI representatives)

12:00 – 12:30

Closing the conference

Conclusions and final words

12:30 – 13:30

Lunch

13:30 – 18:00

Socially responsible activities / Tour Visit / TBD

Organized tour of the city and its surroundings, so that the participants get to know its beauty and cultural heritage.

Registration

Info

Enter all correct information. In the information about the participant, be sure to enter the e-mail address and the correct first and last name of the person who will attend the conference.

The information you enter here will be printed on the accreditations.

The registration fee for attending the conference is 390.00 BAM or 200.00 EUR.

For the fourth person from one company/institution, participation is free!

The registration fee includes attendance at the welcome cocktail (drinks, food), attendance at all panels at the conference, coffee breaks, post-conference lunch and Gala dinner (drinks and food), tourist tour.

Accommodation and transportation are not included in the price!