Huge boost for Asia - Pacific Regional group Conference 2012 from WSBI and NSB

The World Savings Banks Institute's (WSBI) 18th Asia - Pacific Regional Group Conference 2012 was held in joint sponsorship of WSBI and its only bank member in Sri Lanka , National Savings Bank (NSB) on 1st and 2nd March instant . This 2012 is a significant year for NSB since it is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year . The two day conference was based on the topic " The Competitiveness of Current Retail Banking of WSBI Members " .

WSBI represents 23 member institutions from 16 countries in the Asia-pacific region and functions as a platform to build relations with national, regional and international institutions and to exchange experiences with peers from within/beyond the region.

WSBI members in AsiaPacific are diverse, as diverse are the countries to which they belong. Their business activities range from mobilizing savings to full-fledged banking services, but all members, as proximity banks, play a significant role to support the development of their country and the life of its people, through the provision of inclusive financial services. Members meet once a year and have the opportunity to interact on various issues of common interest .

There is also a specific focus put on the identification of opportunities to develop concrete bilateral or multilateral business cooperation between the member banks.

This time the meeting in Sri Lanka , brought together more than 40 delegates from WSBI member institutions and the chief guest at the event, Dr. Sarath Amunugama , the Senior Minister of International Monetary Co-operation , while Mr. Pradeep Kariyawasam , Chairman of NSB made the welcome speech .

Mr. Ajith Nivaad Cabraal , Governor of Central Bank of Sri Lanka , delivered the keynote of the conference and by delivering the keynote address he said retail banking is different from others on the circumstances where even a small one can become big through the support of someone else.

He also said to meet this challenge retail banks have to be conscious about access to markets by recruiting people with necessary culture.

He pointed out that these issues will have no permanent answers but continue to stay and therefore it is necessary to stay abreast to be successful in the competitiveness.

Other panel of speakers included Adinan Maning , Chairman of WSBI Asia - Pacific Regional Group, and Ian Radcliffe , Director , Training and Consultancy , WSBI - ESBG .