Kolkata : The Association of
Microfinance Institutions – West Bengal (AMFI-WB) will be organizing the 9th
Edition of Eastern India Microfinance Summit 2025 in Association with M2i,
Equifax, MFIN & Sa-Dhan. This year the theme of the Summit is Microfinance - On the path
to $5 trillion Economy through Women Entrepreneurship & Financial
Empowerment. The 9th Eastern India Microfinance Summit 2025 will
be held on 10th of January 2025 from 9.00 AM onwards at Biswa Bangla Convention
Centre, HIDCO, New Town, Kolkata.
Microfinance
is widely recognized as a powerful tool, contributing to and propelling towards
achieving sustainable development goals. Its multifaceted roles encompass some
of the key aspects instrumental in fostering sustainable development. Through
financial inclusion, microfinance democratizes access to capital, empowering
marginalized communities and amplifying economic participation. It contributes
to poverty alleviation, offering avenues for entrepreneurship and job creation.
Microfinance also champions gender equality by providing women with access to
financial services. As a catalyst for change, microfinance intertwines
financial empowerment with social empowerment, paving the way towards a more
inclusive and sustainable future. This
year's session is expected to be attended by the MFI practitioners, regulators
and funders to discuss most pertinent issues facing the sector.
India’s ambitious goal to achieve a
USD 5 trillion economy by 2027 places key emphasis on the contribution of its
three broad sectors: services, manufacturing, and agriculture. Of the targeted
GDP, the service sector is expected to contribute USD 3 trillion, while the
manufacturing and agriculture sectors are projected to collectively contribute
USD 2 trillion. Microfinance and other regulated financial entities are poised
to play a crucial role in achieving this target by supporting the financial
needs of these sectors, particularly manufacturing and agriculture with special
focus on women as entrepreneurs.
The landscape of India's financial
sector is rapidly evolving. Traditionally served by Banks, the financial system
has seen the rise of innovative and alternative intermediaries, such as
Microfinance institutions (MFIs), Fintech companies, Digital Service providers
and a completely new set of innovative and efficient models and products. These
organizations are enhancing the flow of credit, financial and other services,
particularly to underserved segments of the population, contributing to growth
across multiple sectors. The use of advanced technologies in digital financial
services, Generative AI is transforming the way services are reached, financial
transactions are processed and financial inclusion is achieved, significantly
boosting the financial sector’s contribution to India's economic growth.
An interesting aspect of this financial evolution is the adoption
of digital financial services by the base of the pyramid and underserved
communities, including those in remote areas. By providing access to financial
services, technology is fostering new livelihood opportunities, improving
family incomes, social security and offering better access to essential
services such as healthcare and education. Additionally, these developments are
helping build resilience to climate risks and natural disasters, which are
becoming more prevalent in India.
The 9th Eastern India Microfinance
Summit in 2025, themed "Microfinance
– On a Path to USD 5 Trillion Economy through Women Entrepreneurship and
Financial Empowerment," presents a critical platform for practitioners
across various sectors—Banking, Microfinance, Investors, Insurance, Fintech,
and Health services—to come together. The summit will provide an opportunity
for stakeholders to share insights and collaborate on strategies to contribute
toward the overarching goal of building a USD 5 trillion economy, with a special focus on women’s entrepreneurship
and financial empowerment as drivers of this transformation. Besides, will
provide an opportunity to identify common opportunities for partnership.
No comments:
Post a Comment