Bansal to inaugurate WSBI General Assy on Jun 6

New Delhi, Jun 6: Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal will inaugurate the General Assembly of World Savings Bank Institute (WSBI) here today. National Savings Institute, Ministry of Finance in collaboration with World Savings Banks Institute, has organised WSBI Board of Directors Meeting and General Assembly.

The theme of the 15th WSBI General Assembly is 'Overcoming financial exclusion through micro-finance' with the objective to exchange views on the contribution that micro-finance can bring to build inclusive financial sectors and assess the role of WSBI members, with a specific focus on the situation in the Asia region. National Savings Institute is working under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

The Institute is responsible for collection and collation of data and providing policy inputs to Ministry of Finance, structuring of different financial products, schemes, launching of new financial products, designing and structuring of new financial products.

NSI through its regional centres spread all over the country conducts training programmes for State Governments, banks, post offices and half a million agents, working in urban, semi-urban, hilly and far-flung areas.

NSI strives for promoting thrift among the masses through savings products designed to suit savings needs of small investors.

WSBI is the global voice of retail and savings banks and represents 109 banking organizations from 92 countries.

They share a strong focus on retail customers, SMEs and local authorities that enables them to provide regional outreach, and a socially responsible approach to business and to the society.

It also facilitates international cooperation among the member countries of World Savings Banks Institute.

NSI has played a vital role in promoting international Cooperation among the Member countries of World Savings Banks Institute during the last one decade, number of training programmes, seminars, workshops were conducted by NSI for developing countries, specially for Vietnam and Mongolia, NSI has imparted training in the field of micro-finance.

These countries have replicated some of our products and services suited to their local conditions. This year NSI plans to open one million accounts in the rural areas through the SHGs, which are spread all over the country, especially in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal.

Presentations will be given by experts from the field of micro finance and economics, impact of micro finance on economic development, micro finance as a gateway to access to financial services for all- an India perspective, changing concepts of public and private roles in financial inclusion.

Dr B B Bhattacharya, Vice Chancellor, JNU University, Ramanathan, General Manager, NABARD and Chris De Noose, Managing Director, WSBI will present papers.

Around 100 delegates from member countries of World Savings Banks Institute all over the world would be participating in the General Assembly.

The delegates include CEOs, managing directors, general managers of savings banks located throughout the world that is Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia.

ANI