SWIFT Business Forum tomorrow

Bangladesh is going to hold an international conference titled 'SWIFT Business Forum Bangladesh', first of its kind in the country's financial history tomorrow (Wednesday).

"The SWIFT Business Forum Bangladesh will bring the local and foreign community from financial institutions, market infrastructures and industry practitioners together with SWIFT and other industry leaders to discuss the most pressing issues facing our industry - and to celebrate 20 years of collaboration with the Bangladesh financial industry," Anis A Khan, the newly-elected chairman of SWIFT member & User Group Bangladesh told The FE Monday.

Belgium-based SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Inter-bank Financial Telecommunication) is a member-owned cooperative that provides the communications platform, products and services to connect more than 10,500 banking organisations, securities institutions and corporate customers in 215 countries and territories.

"The Forum will focus on the topics of compliance, market infrastructures, green banking, financial inclusion and growing economic power of Bangladesh," said Chris Flanagan, MD, Head of Markets & Initiatives, Asia Pacific of SWIFT.

"We aim that the Business Forum offers a unique opportunity for Bangladesh market participants to share ideas, collaborate and take collective action," Chris Flanagan added.

The Forum will also focus on the regulatory reform changes and challenges faced by Bangladesh and also to widening the market space to attract global investors.

 "There will also be a big opportunity for our banking professionals to learn the international best practices from the conference," Mr Anis A Khan, also the managing director & CEO of Mutual Trust Bank Ltd said.

SWIFT enables its users to exchange automated, standardized financial information securely and reliably, thereby lowering costs, reducing operational risk and eliminating operational inefficiencies. SWIFT also brings the financial community together to work collaboratively to shape market practice, define standards and debate issues of mutual interest.

Dr. Atiur Rahman, Governor, Bangladesh Bank will grace the occasion at 6:30 pm and Alain Raes, Chief Executive, Asia Pacific & EMEA, SWIFT will speak on developing a sustainable financial system with Bangladesh. There will be a panel discussion focusing on the transformation of payment & settlement systems in Bangladesh and work sessions on compliance and technology participated by central bank officials, industry leaders and SWIFT regional experts.

Mr Anis A Khan, the first elected chairman of SWIFT member & User Group Bangladesh will present a keynote paper titled 'Transformation of payments & settlement system in Bangladesh and the sub-continent.