8:45 AM - Opening Remarks by:

• Mr. Kiyoshi Kodera, Deputy Director General, International  Bureau, Japan Ministry of Finance

• Mr. Robert Bestani, Director General, Private Sector Department, Asian Development Bank, 

9:00 AM - Panel 1: Overview of Remittances and Channels

               Moderated by Maud Bokkerink, Financial Markets Integrity, 
               International Monetary Fund

Discussion Topics

•     What are the differences between the formal and informal industry?

•     What are the features of informal payment systems?

•     What are the features of formal payment mechanisms?

•     Why is it important to shift from informal to formal channels?

Featured Panelists

•      Nikos Passas – Professor, Northeastern University

•      Stephen Stout – Investment Research, UBS

•      Raul Hernandez-Coss – World Bank, Lessons from the US – Mexico Remittances Corridor on Shifting from Informal to Formal Transfer Systems (APEC ARS Study)

10:00 AM – Coffee Break

10:15 AM – Panel 2: The Regulatory Impact - Balancing Regulations and 
                  Market  Incentives

                  Moderated by APEC ARS Co-Chair Singapore

   Discussion Topics

•       What prudential requirements are appropriate for remittance service provision (e.g. capital adequacy requirements, restrictions on foreign exchange, restrictions on direct access to payment and settlement systems)?

•       How can anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism standards be implemented?

•       How should regulations and the creation of market incentives be balanced to create competitive and secure remittance channels?  

Featured Panelists

•       Maud Bokkerink – International Monetary Fund

•       K.P. Munirathnam – Chief Executive, Indian Overseas Bank 

•       Joy Smallwood – International Monetary Fund, Legal Department

•       Vincent Schmoll – Principal Administrator, Financial Action Task Force

12:30 PM – Lunch

2:00 PM – Panel 3: First Mile – Creating Points of Entry for Money Remitters 

                Moderated by Pol.Maj.Gen. Peeraphan Prempooti, Secretary General of AMLO, 
                Thailand      
 

 Discussion Topics

•      What market incentives do senders face when choosing a remittance service?

•      How can senders become acquainted with different options for remittance service?

•      What are remittance service providers doing to attract customers?  

Featured Panelists

•       Kai Schmitz – Chief Operating Officer, Microfinance International Corp.

•       Philip Yen – Executive Vice-President, Visa International Asia Pacific

•       Antonina Avisado Binsol – Founder, Tulong Pinoy Cyber-NGO      

3:30 PM – Coffee Break

3:45PM – Panel 4: Intermediary – Strengthening Formal Channels I: Technology  

               Moderated by Lois E. Quinn Deputy Director for Terrorist Financing &
               Remittances International Banking & Securities, US Treasury, United States

                  Discussion Topics

•      What are the new technologies being implemented in the remittances market?

•      How has technology affected market competition in the formal sector?

•      Is technology a factor in competition between formal and informal systems?

            Featured Panelists           

•       Moises Jaimes – President, Bancomer Transfer Services

•       Gwenn Bezard – Senior Analyst, Celent Communications 

•       Mario Trujillo – Cheif Executive Officer, Vigo    

5:00 PM – “Kaizen”*

Panelists will be placed at a different roundtable to engage in more detailed discussion with other participants on their relevant topic.

8:00 PM – Dinner hosted by Japan’s Ministry of Finance with a Keynote Speaker 
                Mr. Kiyoshi Kodera; Deputy Director General, International Bureau, 
                Japan Ministry of Finance

June 4

9:00 AM – Panel 5: Intermediary – Strengthening Formal Channels II:
                Developing Remittance Specific Products and Services  

                Moderated by Alfredo Pascual, Director of Private Sector Operations, 
                Asian Development Bank

 Discussion Topics

•      How have strategies been developed to create remittance-specific products and services?

•      How do remittance service providers respond to customer needs and market incentives?

•      What are some specific changes that remittance service providers have implemented (e.g. bilingual staff, special hours of operation, targeted business locations, etc.)?

   Featured Panelists

•      Isabelita T. Manalastas - Managing Director/Regional Head, 
  PNB Tokyo Branch

•      Koshi Wada - General Manager, Operations Administration Dept., Japanese Bankers Association

   

10:45 AM – Panel 6: Last Mile – Maximizing the Potential of Remittances  

                       Moderated by Raul Hernandez-Coss, Financial Sector Specialist, World Bank

   Discussion Topics

•      What are the challenges to bringing formal remittances services to the financially disenfranchised?

•      What are the issues for urban and rural areas?

•      How can remittances be used as a mechanism for banking the unbanked?

Featured Panelists              

•       Isabel Cruz – Director, AMUCSS

•       Anna Cora Evans – Development Finance Manager, World Council of Credit Unions     

•         Flordeliza Sarmiento -  Executive Director, CARD

12:15 PM – Lunch

2:00 PM – Panel 7: Going the Extra Mile – The Role of Government, 
　　　　　　Civil Society and NGOs  

                Moderated by APEC ARS Co-Chair Japan

 Discussion Topics

•      What can be done by government, civil society and NGOs to strengthen the formal market for remittances and maximize the impact of remittances?

•      How can bilateral initiatives between governments help create efficient competitive international remittance channels?

•      How can migrant workers and their families be better educated and informed about sending/receiving issues in the remittances market? 

Featured Panelists

•       Manuel Orozco – Senior Research Associate, Georgetown University

•       Ildefonso Bagasao – Asian Development Bank consultant for the study of overseas Filipino workers remittances, Chief of ERCOF

•       Lee Guat Keow – Senior Manager, Foreign Exchange Administration Department, Bank Negara Malaysia

•       Michael Frias – Community Affairs Officer, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

4:15 PM – Coffee Break

4:30 PM - “Kaizen”* and Summary of “Kaizen”* Groups

Panelists will be placed at a different roundtable to engage in more detailed discussion with other participants on their relevant topic

5:30 PM – Closing Remarks by Ms. Margery Waxman, Director, Financial Market Integrity, The World Bank
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* “Kaizen” is a Japanese term referring generally to the process of development and improvement that may be achieved through investigation, research, discussion and consensus.