Policy proposals will be made by the countries and international agencies in mobilizing financial resources to achieve the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This ministerial session will address how multilateral platforms work effectively to enhance regional partnership and facilitate the implementation of the SDGs through bringing together governments, businesses, civil society organization, and international agencies.

Chair:
H.E. Mr. Muhammad Abdul Mannan, M.P., Minister for Planning, Government of Bangladesh

Opening statement:
Dr. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP

Speaker’s Panel :
H.E. Mr. Bun Chanthy, Vice Minister, Ministry of Commerce, Cambodia

H.E. Mr. Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Higher Education, Technology and Innovations, Sri Lanka

Dr. A.B. Md. MirzaAzizul Islam, Former Adviser to the Caretaker Government in charge of Finance and Planning Ministry

H.E. Prof. Dr.Puspa Raj Kadel, Vice-Chairman, National Planning Commission, Nepal

Prof. Mohammad Ali Taslim, Independent University of Bangladesh, Former Chairman, Bangladesh Tariff Commission & Former CEO, Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI)

Mr. ManmohanParkash, Country Director, Bangladesh Resident Mission, Asian Development bank (ADB)

Chair:
Syed Manzur Elahi, Former Advisor to the Caretaker Govt. of Bangladesh and Chairman, Apex Footwear Limited

Speaker’s Panel

H.E. Prof. Dr. Gowher Rizvi, Adviser to the Honourable Prime Minister for International Relation Affairs, Bangladesh

H.E. Mr. LaimKimleng, Under Secretary of State (Vice Minister), Ministry of Industry and Handicraft, Cambodia

H.E. Mr. Riyaz Mansoor, Deputy Minister of National Planning and Infrastructure, Maldives

H.E. AjithN ivard Cabraal, Senior Economic Advisor to the Prime Minster of Sri Lanka and Former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka

Syed Manzur Elahi, Former Advisor to the Caretaker Govt. of Bangladeshand Chairman, Apex Footwear Limited

Dr. Mustafa K. Mujeri, Executive Director, Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (InM), Former Director General, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies and Former Chief Economist, Bangladesh Bank

Mr. Quinlan Carthane, Chief of Staff, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC),The world business organization, Paris , France

ICC’s Role in Responding to Emerging Global Challenges for Sustainable Growth

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) was founded in 1919 in the aftermath of the First World War with its headquarters in Paris and is having its ‘Centenary Celebration’ world-over in 2019. With its physical presence in more than 100 countries; ICC represents 45 million companies and more than one billion workers worldwide. One in every three workers depend on ICC members for their livelihood. ICC is the largest and the only private sector non-sovereign organization, which was granted the Status of a Permanent Observer at the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2016. The Bangladesh National Committee of ICC, founded in 1994, comprises trade organizations and national and trans-national corporations, who represent almost 80 percent of the Bangladesh economy. This conference is one of five ICC regional events in 2019, and its outputs will be used to support external communications and thought leadership work of ICC worldwide.

Chair:
H.E. Mr. Salman Fazlur Rahman, Adviser to the Honourable Prime Minister for Private Industry and Investment

Introductory remarks:
Mr. Mahbubur Rahman, President, ICC Bangladesh

Speaker’s Panel:
Mr. Quinlan Carthane, Chief of Staff, International Chamber of Commerce(ICC), The world business organization, Paris, France

Mr. Dinesh Weerakkody – Chairman ICC Sri Lanka and Hatton National Bank PLC

Mr. Zabihullah Ziarmal, First Vice Chairman of ICC Afghanistan and Executive Board Member of ICC Headquarter, Paris

Mr. Yu Jianlong, Secretary General, ICC China.

Prof. Barbara Meynert, Senior Adviser, Fung Group of Companies

Mr. Osama Taseer, President, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI)

Barrister Ms.Nihad Kabir, President, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI)

Mr. Shazali Sulaiman, Chairman, the Brunei Darussalam International Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Mir Nasir Hossain , Managing Director, Mir Akhter Hossain Limited

Mr. Mahbubul Alam, President, Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI)

Mrs.Rupali Chowdhury, President, Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)

Regional Workshop on Scaling-up Climate Finance: Urgencies to Increase Public and Private Sources for Climate and Disaster Resilient Development

The impact of climate change is real, and it will affect the lives of billion people in least developed Countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS), and equally to the rest of the world, e.g., through increased numbers of natural disasters. The public sector needs an extra effort to create an enabling investment environment for green and climate and disaster resilient development. Equally important, we need to call the financial sector to scale-up private financing for pathway consistent with low carbon trajectories while developing and adopting new technologies.This regional workshop will bring together policymakers, private business and financial sectors, international organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss pressing issues in promoting climate and disaster resilient investment in the region.

Opening:
Dr.TientipSubhanij, Chief, Financing for Development, ESCAP

Mrs.Rokia Afzal Rahman, Vice-President, ICC Bangladesh

Mr. Vic Abainza, Senior Consultant, ADFIAP

Keynote speech:
Mr. Md. Ashadul Islam, Senior Secretary, Financial Institutions Division, Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh

First panel:
Public resources and effective governance: Regulations, policies and incentives for green finance

To foster green financial products and services in the region, the governments could enhance the quality of three key components: regulatory frameworks, policy instruments and incentive schemes. The development of the three components must take into account private sector evaluation tools such as credit rating, investmentbanking practices and environmental, social and governance (ESG) elements.

Chair:

Mr. EleazarRicote, Assistant Secretary and Deputy Executive Director, PPP Center, the Philippines

Introductory remarks:

Mr. Alper Aras, independent climate finance expert

Panellists:

Ms. Jean Paula B. Regulano, Development Management Officer, People’s Survival Fund Unit, Climate Change Commission, Office of the President, the Philippines

Mr. Imansyah, Deputy Commissioner, Financial Service Authority, Indonesia

Mr. Albert Oung, Chairman, Hong Kong Myanmar Chamber of Commerce

Mr. KhondkarMorshedMillat, General Manager, Sustainable Finance Department, Bangladesh

Mr. Liao ZHANG, Chairman, Jumbo Consulting

Inclusive and Sustainable Financing: Risks and Opportunities for the Banking Sector

The Sustainable Development Goals,or SDGs, require active actions of the banking sector to play an important role in delivering growth of living standards. In the same manner, central banks and the banking regulators need to take up the challenge arise in aligning banking sector operations to meet the SDG. In particular, the banking sector need to answer the question on how they will deal with the immediate challenges arising from climate change and environmental degradation? How do we develop green finance? And what might be the role for Fintech?

Opening remarks by Chair:
Mr. Fazle Kabir, Governor, Bangladesh Bank

Introductory remarks:
Dr. Paul Fisher, Chair, The London Bullion Market Association and Former Executive Director, Bank of England (video presentation)

Speaker’s Panel :
Dasho Mr. Penjore, Governor, Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan

Mr. Ali Reza Iftekhar, Managing Director,Eastern Bank Limited

H.E. Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Senior Economic Advisor to the Prime Minster of Sri Lanka and Former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka

Mr. Imansyah, Deputy Commissioner, Financial Service Authority, Indonesia

Mr. Naib Khan Jamal, Director General, Monetary Policy Department, Da Afghanistan Bank(Central Bank of Afghanistan)

Mr. Muhammad A. (Rumee) Ali, Former Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Chairman of AB Bank and CEO of Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC))

Dr.Tientip Subhanij, Chief, Financing for Development, ESCAP

Prof. Dr. Michael Sung, Founder and Co-Director, Fudan Fintech Research Center, Fanhai International School of Finance, Fudan University

Innovative Finance to Achieve Inclusive and Sustainable Business and Investment: Capital Market Development, Blended Finance and FinTech

Innovative financing schemes through capital market development, blended finance and FinTech have provided new opportunities to inclusive and sustainable development at the global and regional levels. Innovative financing can enhance technology transfer and adaptation among development players and facilitate cross-border infrastructure development and policy and regulatory harmonization among neighbouring countries that are needed for inclusive and sustainable business and investment in the region. In this context, both global and regional initiatives require close collaboration between the public and private sectors for developing global and/or regional financial systems and common norms and standards through proper selection, designing and implementation of projects and technologies. This session will present a critical overview and exploration of selected innovative financing schemes to fund the Asia-Pacific’s needs in achieving the SDG through examining concrete examples.

Chair:
Dr. A.B. Md. MirzaAzizul Islam, Former Adviser to the Caretaker Government in charge of Finance and Planning Ministry

Introductory remarks:
Mr. ManmohanParkash, Country Director, Bangladesh Resident Mission, ADB

Speaker’s Panel
Ms. Wendy Jo Werner, Country Manager, International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Ms. Nguyen Phi Van, Chairwoman, Viet Nam Angel Network, Open Innovation Viet Nam, Ministry of Science and Technology of Viet Nam

Mr. Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Bangladesh

Mr. K. M. Majedur Rahman, Former CEO, Dhaka Stock Exchange

Dr. Tissa Jayaweera, Managing Partner, TJ Associates and Former Chairman, ICC Sri Lanka

Regional Workshop on Scaling-up Climate Finance: Urgencies to Increase Public and Private Sources for Climate and Disaster Resilient Development

Second panel:
Financing for climate and disaster resilient infrastructure

Infrastructure and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) elements should support each other to mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change and natural disasters. The failure to address environmental issues, whether drought related wildfires or carbon emissions, can not only trigger financial liabilities, but can result in serious environmental damage and including the loss of human life. If infrastructure investments amplify these risks, there are need for every stakeholder to use the available innovative financial products or services to make the investment not only profitable, but also socially and environmentally responsible.

Chair:
Mr. XieFei, NRL Expert on Financing for Development, ESCAP

Introductory remarks:
Mr. Xiaoping Jiao, Director General of the China PPP Centre

Panellists:
Dr.Puji Pujiono, Chairperson, Indonesian National Council on Social Welfare

Mr. Eric Roeder, Former Economic Affairs Officer, ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction Division, ESCAP

Mr. Dadang Purnama, Head of Environmental Evaluation Division, Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI), Indonesia

Prof. Dr. Duong Nhu Hung, Dean of School, HCM University of Technology

Ms. Madhurima Sarkar-Swaisgood, Economic Affairs Officer, ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction Division, ESCAP

Leveraging Private Investment: Innovative Financing for Infrastructure Development through New PPP Modalities

Public-private partnership (PPP) can facilitate cross-border infrastructure development and policy and regulatory harmonization among neighbouring countries that are needed for inclusive and sustainable business and investment. PPP can also enhance technology transfer and adaptation through innovative financing mechanism among development players. In this context, proper policy and regulatory frameworks are needed to link the expertise of both public and private sectors and promote regional integration.

Chair:
Mr. Nojibur Rahman, Principal Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister,
Government of Bangladesh

Introductory remarks:
Mr. Xiaoping Jiao, Director General, China PPP Centre

Speaker’s Panel:
Prof. Dr. S. Sabrina, Chief Executive Officer, BNG Global Holding SDN BHD, Malaysia

Prof. Dr.Naoyuki Yoshino, Dean, Asian Development Institute (ADBI) (video presentation)

Mr. Paul Apthorp, Vice Chairman and Founding Director, GMS Freight Transport Association (GMS-FRETA)

Mr. Walter Chan, Chairman, Institution of Public Private Partnerships

Ms.AdrakMukhametkaliyeva, Executive Director, Kazakhstan PPP Center

Ms. ZHANG Fang, Deputy Director of Project Contracting and Investment, China International Contractors Association (CHINCA)

Supply Chain Finance: Enhancing Momentum in International Trade and Tackling Illicit Financial Flows

International trade finance helps the world to become more connected, encourages people’s collaboration and improves communication and transaction with more non-traditional methods through global value chains. However, this comes with challenges as the global trade finance could also involve the illegal movement of funds or capital, which raises the needs for tackling fraud and trade-based money laundering.

Chair:
Mr. Vincent O’Brien, Chair of the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) Banking Commission’s Market Intelligence Group

Introductory remarks:
Mr. Steven Beck, Advisor and Head of Trade Finance, Asian Development Bank

Speaker’s Panel:
Mr. KosalaWickramanayake, President, International Business Council

Mr. Kamal Hossain, Deputy General Manager, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), Bangladesh Bank

Mr. David Morrish, Global Head of Trade and Transaction Banking, London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF)

Mr. Ahmed Shaheen, Deputy Managing Director, Eastern Bank, Bangladesh

Mr. Patrick Martin, Principal, ANDE + Co.

Ms.SashirekkaRountan, Sales Director, ICC Academy, Singapore

Regional Workshop on Scaling-up Climate Finance: Urgencies to Increase Public and Private Sources for Climate and Disaster Resilient Development

Third panel:
Mobilizing private-sector financing – The role of capital market development to climate finance

This session will discuss on the strategic role of capital market to finance climate change investment. The discussion will include but not limited to the emergence of green bonds, green equity, corporate green finance and green city investment.

Chair:
Dr. William Yu, CEO, World Green Organisation (WGO)

Introductory remarks:
Mr. Cedric Rimaud, ASEAN Programme Manager, Climate Bonds Initiative, Singapore

Panellists:
Ms.Mahua Acharya, Asia Director and Senior Advisor, Climate Policy Initiative, India

Mr. Phub Dorji, CEO, Bhutan Development Bank

Mr. Sanjib Subba, Former CEO, National Banking Institute, Kathmandu, Nepal

Dr. Shah Md. AhsanHabib, Professor and Director (Training), Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM)

Mr. Nalin Karunatileka, Vice President, Project Management and BCP, DFCC Bank PLC.

Building Financial Inclusivity: MSMEs’ Access to Finance through Technology and Innovation

The technology-led innovation and the policy framework needed to support tech innovations are becoming an integral part to ensure financial inclusion in the development of micro, small, and medium- sized enterprises (MSMEs). In this juncture, there is a need to improve cooperation among MSMEs, regulatory agencies and financing institutions to create enabling environment to provide more tech-oriented financial products or services. The mediation of theses institutional actors could help MSMEs in enhancing business opportunities and achieving sustainable development by improving access to finance through FinTech, credit rating, credit guarantee, transaction law, microfinance and intercompany credits.

Chair:
Mr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad
Principal Coordinator on SDG Affairs (Retd.)
Office of the Prime Minister
Govt. of Bangladesh

Introductory remarks:
Dr. Sailendra Narain, Former Chairman and Managing Director, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

Speaker’s Panel:
Mrs. Rokia Afzal Rahman, Vice President, ICC Bangladesh

Mr. Mominul Islam, Managing Director and CEO, IPDC Finance Ltd.

Mr. Ken PAN Yancheng. President, Trade & Industry Association (Singapore)

Dr.Shigehiro Shinozaki, Senior Economist, Office of the Chief Economist and Director General (EROD), Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department (ERCD), ADB

Mr. Jacky Tsoi, Partner of Syndicate Capital

Mr. Rajeev Kumar Gupta, Programme Management Specialist, UNCDF

Financial Implications for SDGs in the Context ofLDCs Graduation

Least developed countries (LDCs) in Asia and the Pacific have made rapid social and economic progress over the last decades. Health indicators have improved, more children are now in school, and poverty has declined significantly. With increasing levels of human assets and lower levels of economic vulnerability, several LDCs in the region are on the cusp of graduating from the LDC status. Despite this progress, LDCs continue to face daunting development challenges and will require significant financial resources to achieve SDGs. Grappling with the withdrawal of many international support programmes, a comprehensive regional cooperation and coordination with key development partners will play an important role to ensure that no one is left behind in these economies.

Chair:
Mr. Monowar Ahmed, Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, Government of Bangladesh

Introductory remarks:
Dr.Hamza Ali Malik, Director, Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, ESCAP

Speaker’s Panel:
Ms. Mia Seppo, Resident Coordinator, the United Nations in Bangladesh

Mr. Hitoshi Hirata, Chief Representative
JICA Bangladesh Office, Dhaka (tbc)
Ms.Phedra Moon Morris, Head of Aid/Development Assistance, High Commission of Canada to Bangladesh

Mr. Naser EzazBijoy, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Bangladesh

Mr. Md. Golam Mortaza, Country Economist (Bangladesh and Maldives), Islamic Development Bank

Dr.Syed Munir Khasrou, Chairman, The Institute of Policy, Advocacy, and Governance (IPAG) and Professor, Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka

Regional Workshop on Scaling-up Climate Finance: Urgencies to Increase Public and Private Sources for Climate and Disaster Resilient Development

Fourth panel:
Climate finance champions network – country perspectives and the way forward

This session will bring together the members of the climate finance champions networkunder ESCAP’s climate finance programme andinvite broader participants from across the region to disseminate the project outcomes, and ultimately, to identify the future direction of ESCAP’s climate finance related activities.

Chair:
Mr. Zenathan Adnin Hasannudin, Economic Affairs Officer, Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, ESCAP

Panellists:
Mr. Vic Abainza, Senior Consultant, ADFIAP

Mr. Anthony M Shanil Fernando, Secretary/Director, ICC-Sri Lanka

Ms.Masnellyarti, Chairperson of Environment Commission, ICC-Indonesia

Mr. ZabihullahZiarmal, First Vice Chairman of ICC Afghanistan and Executive Board Member of ICC

Ms.Sushama Sharma, Founder President, Women CAN Nepal

Mr. KagnarithChea, General Manager, the Institute of Banking and Finance of Cambodia

Mr. Khalid Mumtaz, Director, Bahria University, Pakistan

Closing:
Dr. Masato Abe, Economic Affairs Officer, Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, ESCAP

Mr. Vic Abainza, Senior Consultant, ADFIAP

Mr. Ataur Rahman, Secretary General, ICC-Bangladesh

Chair:
Mr. Md. Ashadul Islam, Senior Secretary, Financial Institutions Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of Bangladesh

Remarks by:
Dr.Hamza Ali Malik, Director, Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, ESCAP

Mrs. Rokia Afzal Rahman, Vice-President, ICC Bangladesh

Mr. Muhammad A. (Rumee) Ali, Chairman, ICCB Banking Commission

Mr. Steven Beck, Advisor and Head of Trade Finance, Asian Development Bank

Mr. David Morrish, Global Head of Trade and Transaction Banking, London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF), UK

Press briefing:
Mr. Mahbubur Rahman, President, ICC Bangladesh

Mr. Arijit Chowdhury, Additional Secretary, Financial Institutions Division, Ministry of Finance of Bangladesh

Dr.Tientip Subhanij, Chief, Financing for Development, ESCAP

Nr.Ataur rahman, Secretary General, ICC Bangladesh

Dr. Masato Abe, Economic Affairs Officer, Macro Economic Policy and Financing for Development Division, ESCAP