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 The Microfinance India Summit 2009, the sixth in a series of annual summits organised by ACCESS Development Services, was co-sponsored by HSBC from October 26-28, 2009 at Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi.
Over the years, the Microfinance India Summit has emerged to become an important sectoral platform, bringing together thought leaders to delve into and debate key current issues in the sector. The theme this year "Doing Good and Doing Well: The need for balance" drew upon diverse perspectives on the future focus of the sector as it enters its next stage of evolution. The summit looked at both the trade-offs and points of convergence as the sector grapples to balance between building the social as well as the financial capital.
At the inauguration, a special address was given by the chief guest, Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands (Special Advocate for inclusive finance for Development of UN-Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon). Naina Lal Kidwai, Group General Manager and Country Head, HSBC India was the keynote speaker at the event.
The "Microfinance India- State of the Sector Report" 2009 was also released as a Summit publication on the occasion. This document, over the last three years, has become a credible document for the sector in India.
The HSBC ACCESS Microfinance India Awards
The first HSBC ACCESS Microfinance India Awards were held on 26 October 2009 in New Delhi. The awards recognise the contribution of several thought leaders, practitioners, policy makers, promoters, researchers in the area of microfinance and are the first of its kind for the sector. The chief guest for the Awards ceremony was Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Government of India. Naina Lal Kidwai, gave the welcome address and stressed on the need to appreciate the efforts of the diverse stakeholders who have helped scale up the sector to a level that it had made a tremendous contribution to facilitate financial inclusion.
In the first year of its inception, two awards have been instituted. One award is focused on an individual who has made a lifetime contribution to the growth of the sector-influencing policy and global thought, innovating solutions, creating strong institutions, with high levels of commitment. The other award recognises an institution that has demonstrated the ability to significantly scale up, remain sustainable but retains its social mission.
The award winners for 2009 were:
- Individual award - Vijay Mahajan, a thought leader who was recognised for his contribution to the Microfinance Sector
- Institution of the Year - Bandhan Financial Services Pvt Ltd, one of the best examples of new generation microfinance institutions
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