CLOSING SPEECH

Distinguished guests, dear ADFIP colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of ADFIP, I am officially bringing this conference to an end, even if Fiji Development Bank has organised for all of us tomorrow a day cruise to Vunabaka island. I invite you all to join us on this interesting visit to what I understand is a unique eco-tourism project financed by Fiji Development Bank.

As the 30th ADFIP Annual Meeting draws to a close, I would like to take a moment to consider our activities and achievements of the past three days.

As leaders in the financial sectors of our respective countries, we all came to Nadi to strengthen ties and partnerships, share experiences, and assess best ways to increase the role of ADFIP in the financing of Private Sector, Climate Change and Women Empowerment in the entire Pacific region.

Four days later, we will be leaving Nadi with new perspectives and a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities we face in these sectors. We will also be heading home with a better understanding of the benefits that ADFIP can bring to its members. We will remember the experiences and best practices shared during the conference as we take them home to our respective communities. From its side, ADFIP will continue to build upon the discussions we have held, the partnerships we have cemented and the relationships we have formed. Even in today’s interconnected world, there is nothing as powerful as face-to-face interaction and this is what makes our Annual Meetings so valuable to ADFIP members but also to the representatives of the donor community who have attended the conference.

I have no doubt that the knowledge you have gained and the contacts you have made here in Nadi will help make an impact to your organisations.

All of these activities and interactions will not only create new opportunities for all but also strengthen the role and visibility of ADFIP in the region. Once again, I wish to thank our CEO and his team for the progress that our association has been making since his appointment earlier this year.

My special thanks go to our host, Fiji Development Bank, for their remarkable efforts and hospitality. I wish the best of luck to …… with the preparation of the 31st ADFIP Annual Meeting next year in ….

Finally my thanks also go to everyone who has contributed to the success of this unforgettable conference, in particular you, delegates and ADFIP friends.

Whether you have come from near or far, I wish you a safe journey home.

THANK YOU.

Anna Mendiola

ADFIP Chairman

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