Opening Welcoming Remarks By Simeon M. Athy, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu on the Occasion of the Opening of the 4th AFI Expert Group Financial Inclusion Policy (EGFIP) Meeting June 1st, Holiday Inn, Port Vila.
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Hon. Deputy Governors of regional central banks
Mr. Norbert Mumba, Deputy Executive Director, Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI),
Mr. Mark Flaming, Regional Advisor and Programme Manager, Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP),
Senior officials of the Government of Vanuatu and Reserve Bank of Vanuatu, Members of the Vanuatu National Financial Inclusion Taskforce,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning!
Salamat Dadang to those of you who’ve travelled all the way from KL, Malaysia.
I am very pleased to be standing before you this morning at the first day of this important regional meeting and as Head of the co-‐hosting institution—the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu—I basically wish to officially welcome you all to Port Vila as you’re here to attend the 2nd PIRI which is preceded by this 4th AFI Expert Group Financial Inclusion Policy Meeting.
It is also interesting to note that some of you are amongst the very first guests to check into Holiday Inn after the commencement of its operations 15 months following the devastations left by Tropical Cyclone Pam.
I hope you bring with you the best spirits that can help Vanuatu prosper in the coming years.
As a subregional group of the global Alliance of Financial Inclusion, but especially one from a place like the Pacific, we all recognise our unique constraints. Thus, I strongly believe the initiative to provide a long-‐term opportunity for member institutions to share common vision, while working towards ensuring that financial services in the region are made accessible to the unbanked and underprivileged, is within the broader vision of our respective national strategies.
I am also heartened to learn that the group (our group) is one of the most committed regions to achieve greater financial inclusion in the world.
Last week, I was privileged to be in a function here in Vila where the former All Black Coach—Sir Graham Henry—was a guest speaker and was answering questions from the audience about what makes the All Blacks the best in the world of rugby. He said something like: “….there are always people behind the players that work hard to make the players improve every day ….”.
And that is the thrust of my message to you this morning: I would like our EGFIP to be like those “…people behind the players…”, but in the context of financial inclusion, to drive our respective national programs on financial inclusion forward to the best of your abilities, given your expertise and professional skills in this field.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Without further ado and without overstepping into my Deputy’s role as co-‐chair, let me once again welcome you to Port Vila. I wish you all the success in your discussions.
Thank you.