OVERVIEW
THE FORUM
The Maldives Pension Administration Office, as the country’s largest potential institutional investor, sees the development of the Financial Sector and financial literacy as a key imperative to achieve its strategic intent and objectives.
The Maldives Finance Forum was launched in 2012, to enable a nationally acclaimed platform to deliberate on issues, promote views and share experiences for the development of Maldivian Financial Sector. And it has become a widely acclaimed event with overwhelmingly positive responses from the stakeholders.
The themes of 2012 and 2013 forums were aimed at the Public Sector with the expectation of positive policy responses from that sector. The ideas were well received by the policy makers. The theme of 2014 forum was developed with an expectation of Private Sector led positive developments to the Financial Market. In 2015, the focus was on pension and retirement income security.
The theme selected for this year is “Financial Sector Modernization and Reform”
OBJECTIVES
PREVIOUS FORUMS
VISION
"To enable a nationally acclaimed platform to deliberate on issues, promote views and share experiences for the development of Maldivian Finance Sector"
2012
2015
2014
2013
AGENDA
Welcome and Introductory Remarks:
Ms. Athifa Ali, Chairperson, Maldives Pension Administration Office (MPAO)
‘Financial Sector Modernization and Reform’
Presentation by Mr. Robert H. Singletary, International Development Consultant
‘Strengthening Financial Sector in Maldives’
Presentation by Mr. Ahmed Imad, Senior Manager, Financial Sector Development Unit,
Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA)
Modernization of Life Insurance’
Presentation by Mr. Srinivasan Ramakrishnan, Life Manager, Allied Insurance Company
MPAO Video Presentation
‘Investment Policy and Strategy’
Presentation by Mr. Mohamed Hussain Maniku, Chief Executive Officer, MPAO
Panel Discussion on ‘Financial Sector Modernization and Reform’
Panel Members:
Mr. Iyaz Waheed - Moderator, President, Universal Foundation
Mr. Robert H. Singletary, International Development Consultant
Mr. Mohamed Nizar, Chairperson, Privatization & Corporatization Board
Mr. Abdul Wahid Thowfeeq, Co-owner, Ensis Group of Companies
Mr. Ahmed Imad, Senior Manager, Financial Sector Development Unit, MMA
Concluding Remarks by Mr. Muznee Mohamed, Board Director, MPAO
FORUM SPEAKERS
MR. Robert H. Singletary
International Development Consultant,
Mr. Singletary is an International Development Consultant focusing on financial sector matters. During the last 10 years, he has worked on 17 projects covering 11 countries, either in recurring short-term or resident positions. His donor clients include the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Lux-Dev (Luxembourg), the FIRST Initiative and USAID.
He was appointed as the first Chairman of the National Securities Commission of the Republic of Georgia by the President of Georgia, a unique occurrence with the FSU republics. Mr. Singletary has also served as Project Director for the Armenian Financial Sector Project, a 5-year, $16.7 million project focusing on banking, insurance, securities, mortgage and pension and the Macedonian Financial Sector Project, a 3-year, $7.5 million project also focusing on capital markets, pension, accounting, banking and government securities.
His US regulatory experience includes serving as Senior Counsel for the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of the General Counsel, and as Enforcement Chief for the SEC’s San Francisco office, with 10 years total service. In addition to his BA (economics) and Juris Doctor (law review) degrees, he holds an LL.M. degree in Securities Regulation from Georgetown University Law School.
His previous US private sector experience includes serving as a Financial and Operations Principal for a US SEC registered brokerage firm and Board of Directors Member for a US SEC registered investment fund. He is a former member of the Chicago Board of Trade (now the Chicago Mercantile Exchange) and New York Board of Trade (now the Intercontinental Futures Exchange), two of the world’s largest commodities futures exchanges. He has passed all major U.S. securities industry license examinations.
Mr. Mohamed Hussain Maniku
Chief Executive Officer, Maldives Pension Administration Office
Mr. Mohamed Hussain Maniku has been the Chief Executive Officer of Maldives Pension Administration Office since its inception in 2009. The assets under custody as at Dec 2015 are 450 Million USD. He began his career at Department of Finance, presently the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and held number of senior management posts. He gained vast exposure in corporate business settings in many functional areas before assuming the post of Managing Director of State Trading Organization (STO) in 1993. He has held directorships in number of companies during his tenure with STO. He was instrumental in transforming the company from an import and distribution company to a holding company engaged in international trading. In February 2008, he was appointed as Maldivian Ambassador to United States of America. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Mr. Mohamed Nizar
Chairperson, Privatization and Corporatization Board
Mr. Mohamed Nizar currently holds the post of the Chairperson of the Privatization and Corporatization Board, working as the top executive of the board from February 2014 to present. His main functions include privatization and corporatization of Government businesses including monitoring and evaluation of State Owned Enterprises. Mr. Nizar is a highly experienced in the field and has made vast contributions in the business industry in areas of international trade, business development, marketing and strategic planning of large companies.
He began his career at State Trading Organization Limited, and gained 14 years of executive level experience at STO, the largest commercial company in Maldives. Mr. Nizar holds a Master of Business Administration from University of South Australia.
Mr. Ahmed Imad
Senior Manager, Financial Sector Development Unit, Maldives Monetary Authority
Mr. Ahmed Imad currently holds the post of the Manager, Financial Sector Development Unit at Maldives Monetary Authority. He is mainly responsible for overseeing and supervising the work of the Financial Sector Development Unit (FSD), and implementing financial sector development plan accordingly. In addition, he undertakes the task of strategic analysis and assists with strategic planning related to financial sector development. He began his career at Maldives Monetary Authority, and held a number of senior management posts, including Executive Officer at Non-Bank Financial Institution Section and Deputy Manager at Monetary Policy Research Division of MMA for 6 year. Moreover, recently he has held the post of Senior Monetary Analyst at Monetary Policy Section from 2013 to 2014. He has gained knowledge of financial policy programming, monetary and financial statistics and anti-money laundering through workshops held by various financial Institutions. He holds a Master of Science in Economics and Finance from University of Durham, UK and a Bachelor of Business in Economics and Finance from Metropolitan College, Malaysia, affiliated with Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Australia.
Mr. Abdul Wahid Thowfeeq
Co-owner, Ensis Group of Companies
Mr. Abdul Wahid Thowfeeq is an entrepreneur and a financial services management professional.
He is a Chartered Insurer by profession and has had a 20 year career in the insurance industry and he has previously served as managing director of Allied Insurance, the largest Insurance company for 6 years before retiring to pursue his own business career.
He is a partner and co-founder of several companies including Ensis Fisheries Ltd, which is the market leader in the processing and export of yellowfin tuna products in Maldives.
During his tenure at Allied, he has spearheaded many initiatives and projects to strengthen the company internally and capitalize on the opportunities in the market and introduced new services, formed Aasandha company as a JV with Allied and government and successfully operated the national insurance scheme.
His main interests include conceptualization and initiation of new business ventures and strategic management
Mr. IYAZ WAHEED
President, Universal Foundation
Mr. Iyaz Waheed is the president of Universal Foundation and has over 11 years’ experience in finance, accounting and management mainly in the Maldives and Seychelles tourism industry. He has worked in new resort development projects, preopening of resorts, investment, and financial analysis. He also has experience in organizational planning and restructuring, human resources, budgeting, control, compliance and reporting.
Mr. Srinivasan Ramakrishnan
Life Manager, Allied Insurance Company of the Maldives Pvt Ltd
Mr. Srinivasan Ramakrishnan, Life Insurance Manager, Allied Insurance company of the Maldives, is a Fellow of the Insurance Institute of India. He has experience of over 41 years in the insurance industry having served in various capacities in India, Mauritius & Maldives.
DOWNLOADS
PRESENTATIONS
‘Financial Sector Modernization and Reform’
Presentation by Mr. Robert H. Singletary, International Development Consultant
‘Strengthening Financial Sector in Maldives’
Presentation by Mr. Ahmed Imad, Senior Manager, Financial Sector Development Unit, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA)
Modernization of Life Insurance’
Presentation by Mr. Srinivasan Ramakrishnan, Life Manager, Allied Insurance Company
‘Investment Policy and Strategy’
Presentation by Mr. Mohamed Hussain Maniku, Chief Executive Officer, MPAO
GALLERY
2016
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Bring together leaders
from business, financial, political, academic and social protection sector to deliberate on issues, promote views and share experiences for the development of Maldivian Financial Sector
Promote research on the Maldives Financial Sector
and create awareness and increase financial literacy among the public
Enable development of original ideas
and creative solutions for the Maldivian Social Security System and Pension Fund
Contact us
Maldives Pension Administration Office
info@financeforum.mv
+ 960 3309908 / 1441