MICROFINANCE EVENT: Belarusbank to Host World Savings Bank Institute (WSBI) Meeting, September 30 – October 1, 2015, Minsk, Belarus

Event Name: World Savings Bank Institute (WSBI) Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) Meeting 2015

Event Dates: September 30 – October 1, 2015

Event Location: Renaissance Minsk Hotel, Minsk, Belarus

Cost: Attendance is free of charge for members of WSBI. Non-members pay a participation fee of EUR 250 (USD 279). Visa support will be provided by Belarusbank.

Event Summary: The purpose of the event is to provide a platform for stakeholders to share information and identify challenges and opportunities in developing an “enabling financing environment”[1] to promote economic growth and prosperity in EECA. Issues that will be addressed include: (1) How investments by international financial institutions (IFIs) have supported the economies of the region; (2) How EECA can start relying on its own resources for development; (3) How to expand and improve financial services for households and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and (4) What roles the financial sector and other stakeholders can play in the development of the region.

Background on Organizers: Belarusbank is a financial institution in Minsk, Belarus, that was established in 1922. As of 2015, the bank reports total assets of USD 11.8 billion, a loan portfolio of USD 8.11 billion and total deposits of USD 12.1 billion. The World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) is a Belgium-based banking association that was established in 1924 and represents 6,000 savings and retail financial services organizations. As of 2015, WSBI reports its members hold combined total assets of approximately USD 13.5 trillion and non-bank deposits of approximately USD 5.3 trillion.

Event Website: http://www.wsbi-esbg.org/Events/EECA/Pages/default.aspx

For inquiries about the program, you may contact Ms. Mina Zhang by email at mina.zhang[at]wsbi-esbg.org or by phone at +32 211 11 34. For additional information on logistical issues, you may contact Ms. Tania Lemos by email at tania.lemos[at]wsbi-esbg.org or by phone at +32 211 11 38.

By Hye In Arielle Oh, Research Associate

Additional sources and information:

[1] World Savings Bank Institute-European Savings Bank Group: “WSBI EECA Meeting 2015,” http://www.wsbi-esbg.org/Events/EECA/Pages/default.aspx

[2] Belarusbank: “Annual Reports,” http://belarusbank.by/en/about_bank/10533

[3] World Savings Bank Institute-European Savings Bank Group: “WSBI Members,” http://www.wsbi-esbg.org/Who-we-are/About-WSBI/Pages/WSBI-Members.aspx

MicroCapital Universe Profile, “Belarusbank,” https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Belarusbank

MicroCapital Universe Profile, “World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI),” https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=World+Savings+Bank+Institute+%28WSBI%29

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