Join the third Symposium on Risk Managementto be held on 27 June 2014 in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

            Targeting regulatory, strategic and modelling challenges for risk managers as well as regulators, the one-day event will feature two key topics: technology risk (morning session) and financial risk (afternoon session).  Renowned regulators, industry leaders and matter experts from China, UK, US, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong will be brought together to share the latest developments, challenges, regulatory reforms as well as best practices.  By attending the Symposium, the participants will be able to not only learn about the insightful perspectives in the IT and finance fields, but also get the first-hand information on the latest evolution and innovations of risk management.

            The fee to participate for a full day program is HK$3000, excluded the hotel accommodation, visa and food fee.

            The quality of a financial institution’s portfolio largely reflects the degree of quality of the lending officer’s performance in his assigned role. He has a pivotal role in attracting desirable clients and in undertaking credit initiation, loan evaluation and portfolio management through the quality of financial expertise offered to the market.

            The growing sophistication of financial products and services and the dynamic needs of bank clients has transformed the role of the lending officer to that of a financial management consultant and a financial engineer to his client.  This role demands not only a holistic handle of the credit cycle but also more rigorous knowledge in the technical fields of accounting, development  finance, green banking, value chain finance, risk-based/cash flow lending, factoring, credit and environmental risk assessment and  management,  fund sourcing, money market and trust operations. It also necessitates a thorough understanding of the client’s business within its competitive environment and of the capability of its management to influence the company’s future progress.

            The Loan Officership Program is a rigorous, intense and practical training program designed to level up the skills of lending officers through experiential learning, hands-on exercises and case studies so they can make well-informed credit decisions.

The participation fee is US$ 3800 excluded the hotel accommodation, visa and food fee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highlights of the Conference program include:  

 

(1) Trends & Updates;

(2) Regulatory Development;

(3) Organizational Culture;

(4) Cross Functional Collaboration;

(5) Risk Appetite;

(6) Reputational Risk;

(7) Data;

(8) Security & IT Risk;

(9) Risk Identification;

 

 

 

            From a market that was considered difficult to serve, SME Banking has now become a new strategic thrust of banks due to business development and income opportunities that abound, specifically in the cross-selling of products and services. An identified intervention to capture a larger share of the SME market is the strengthening of the SME lending infrastructure and capability of credit officers to properly identify the bank’s desired SME target sectors, spot viable projects and properly evaluate, measure and mitigate risks relative to SME lending and consequently nurture a vibrant and sustainable loan portfolio geared towards risk minimization and profit maximization.

 

            The particular goal of this training program is to assist mid-level bank officers and managers to develop a thorough understanding of how to build the fundamentals of SME banking and to learn about international best practices in this area.  The training aims to facilitate their ability to: (1) better understand the motivations and advantages for developing or expanding an SME line of business; (2) assess the external environment for developing or expanding an SME line of business; (3) design and implement strategies building on current business lines and relationships; (4) review existing SME portfolio and assess the risk-return trade-offs; and (5) implement documentation, monitoring and evaluation systems for the SME business lines.

            Target participants are Credit Officers, Relationship Managers, Credit Risk Officers and Managers involved in SME Lending, Product Development and Business Development.

 

            The Green Banker Program offers an innovative approach towards a proactive and smart way of thinking involving the tenets of sustainability, ethical lending, conservation and energy efficiency. Green banking considers all the social and environmental/ecological factors with an aim to protect the environment and conserve natural resources. In the coming decade we are likely to see better portfolio management practices on the part of the  banks as they realize that going green is not an obstacle, but an opportunity; it is not an expense, but an investment and begin shifting their focus to financing new technology that promote a cleaner environment. This presents financial institutions with a new market, including new products for clients in the green segments such as services that can help clients identify and manage climate risks, including regulatory, market, infrastructure and financial solutions to compete in new green markets.

 

            Target participants are senior officers and managers of banks and financial institutions involved in strategic planning, program and product development, and business development.

 

 

 

            The primary objective of ABA’s short-term visiting program is to provide  member banks the opportunity to study and undergo training on specific aspects of the operations and facilities of the more advanced host banks (such as Maybank). The idea is to enable the visitors to: (i) enhance and upgrade their technical skills and knowledge in specific areas such as international banking, treasury activities, investment, and foreign exchange in the distinct and peculiar social, economic and business environment of the host country, and (ii) gain first-hand knowledge of the operations, systems and work procedures of the host bank's various line departments.

 

 

The program aims to assist mid-level bank officers and managers to develop a thorough understanding of how to build the fundamentals of SME banking and to learn about international best practices in this area. The training aims to facilitate their ability to: 1) better understand the motivations and advantages for developing or expanding an SME line of business; 2) assess the external environment for developing or expanding an SME line of business; 3) design and implement strategies building on current business lines and relationships; 4) review existing SME portfolio and assess the risk-return trade-offs; and 5) implement documentation, monitoring and evaluation systems for the SME business lines.

 

 

 

 

 

      Targeting senior bank executives as main audience, the two-day event will feature case studies by leading banks from around the world, showcasing their response to the challenges of making the branch fit for purpose in this new paradigm. In addition, the Conference will provide a platform where experiences, information and views can be exchanged in an open and interactive environment, helping attendees define their own institution’s approach. 

 

 

 

 

 

            Good corporate governance ensures that decisions made and actions taken by Board Directors and management reflect and protect the interests of stockholders, customers, creditors, and other stakeholders. Since the financial crisis, the focus has been placed on eliminating the features of crony capitalism (political dealing, family ties, nepotism, etc.) and instead creating performance-driven enterprises. That means introducing laws and regulations that protect the rights of minority shareholders; stressing the role of independent directors and external audits; eliminating insider-trading and self-dealing; requiring timely, accurate and relevant information disclosure; and reforming the banking sector. More recently, the focus themes are on anti-corruption and ethical behaviour of organizations as corporate citizens. Good corporate governance is empowering today’s Boards of Directors to be more proactive in directing the operations of their organizations by making them responsible for their actions and causing them to be extra-efficient in providing shareholder value.

            Members of the Board and top management and executives are the target audience for this program.

 

 

 

Theme: Asian Banks: Reinventing the Modern-Day Silk Route In the modern world, Asian banks seek to thrive in the most dynamic growth area, Asia. They build bridges across other parts of Asia, expand ties of trade and investments with other Asian countries as they do with other parts of the world. They harness leading-edge technology and expertise in transforming their own institutions and in providing service excellence to their clients in a highly competitive setting. They manage risk and reward amidst a changing global financial landscape with the US Fed’s tapering of QE3. This is figuratively similar to the fabled silk route when Asian traders, entrepreneurs, and financiers braved uncertainty and risk to bring prosperity to themselves and their countries.

This year's Conference will focus discussions on the heightened need for

Today’s Asian banks to seek innovation in products and channels while strengthening their operating model to become leaner, faster, and more efficient in order to succeed in today's marketplace.

 

 

 

 

          

            The Core Development Banker Program will cover the concepts of development banking, specifically: what development banking is; its roles and functions in the economy; scope of development banking; distinctions between development banks and commercial banks. It will also cover the development bank’s evolution, purpose, tasks and models, standards of performance and development banking practices globally. The program will also include development financing in the Asia Pacific region, particularly the practices and management of selected development banks, including the appraisal of development projects.

Target participants are senior officers and managers of development finance institutions

 

         

            The program includes discussions of the vital role of development financing institutions, such as development banks, in the economic and social progress of a developing country as well as its responsibilities as a financial institution. The course is also envisioned to provide a deeper insight on the needs for development financing that could serve as guidelines for the operation of development banks.  Important guidelines on long-term project finance, an important area of development banking, will also be discussed. The first module will be devoted to the discussion of principles and practices of development banking as well the changes happening in the provision of development finance.  It will also discuss the trend and outlook for the future of development banks. The second module is designed to provide participants with important knowledge and skills in good corporate governance and management of human resource. This is envisioned for provide participants with skills in leadership and strategic management. The learning gains from this program will help the senior officials of development banks in providing leadership role in managing development finance institutions.