The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC), in collaboration with the Banking, Finance and Insurance Institute of Nepal (BFIN) was able to successfully conduct a customized program catered to the banking and finance sector. It was held from June 17-21, 2019 and involved the participation of 25 participants headed by the Managing Director of BFIN, Dr. Binod Atreya.

Targeted exclusively for the board members of the banks and financial institutions/public sectors in Nepal, the program was organized for them to be able to learn about the leaders’ challenges in the bank industry and respond to the digital transformation shaping the global world.

In addition, it fulfilled the following objectives:

  • Understand the roles and responsibilities of a Board Member of financial/public organization; and their direct relationship with the management of bank and financial institutions;
  • Use their knowledge, personal skills and competencies to act as an effective leader of a financial/public organization;
  • Be aware of emerging trends and directions in the finance industry in Philippines or across the globe;
  • Understand the future leadership challenges emanating from the development of technology and other external and internal environmental factors;
  • Prepare leaders to cope with the digital world of tomorrow.

Overall program supervision was through the efforts of Dr. Ramhari Lamichhane, CPSC Director General. Program coordination meanwhile was organized by Engr. Abdul Ghani Rajput, CPSC Faculty Specialist. Other lecturers were sourced from our existing professional experts’ pool as local resource persons, namely: Dr. Romulta C. Alto, (Faculty Specialist, CPSC); Ms. Myra May Fernandez-Dagdagan (Manager, Financial Supervision Department V, Financial Supervision Sector, Central Bank of the Philippines); Ms. Maria Susan P. Alfonso (Financial Advisor, Philamlife Insurance Co.,) and, Mr. Joseph S. Reyes (Certified Investment Solicitor, Philam Asset Management).

In addition to the classroom lectures, the 5-day visit also included the exposure visits and study tours to different banking institutions in the Philippines: namely the Banking Association of the Philippines (BAP) and Asian Development Bank (ADB), The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex and the Department of Finance, Philippines. They were also able to see some of the city sights including Rizal Park, Intramuros, Visit to the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP)McKinley Hill and Greenhills Shopping Center.

Visit to the Asian Development Bank Headquarters.

Visit to the Bankers’ Association of the Philippines

Visit to the Department of Finance

Visit to Rizal Park

MoU between CPSC, BFIN Signed

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between CPSC and BFIN and witnessed by all participants and staff during the aforementioned program’s opening ceremony on June 17.

The MoU outlined the different areas of collaboration that both organizations can explore in the future. It is also another testament of CPSC’s widening stakeholder reach and underpins the development of a long-term partnership between the two, particularly on the fields of training, finance, faculty and information exchange, and participation in international conferences or programs.

CPSC was represented by Dr. Ramhari Lamichhane (Director General), Engr. Abdul Ghani Rajput (Faculty Specialist) and Ms. Therese Lee (CPSC Faculty Consultant). Meanwhile, BFIN was represented by Dr. Binod Atreya (Managing Director, BFIN) and Ms. Ruby Bhattarai (Course Director, BFIN).

BFIN was established on August 14, 2018. According to their website, the main objectives of this Institute are "to offer training, workshop and seminar and enhance the knowledge, skills and capabilities of the employees of financial sector and other stakeholders; conduct research and consulting to strengthen the financial sector; offer specific accredited courses; create a data bank for the use of banking community and help strengthen the financial systems in Nepal”.