Dhaka: The 39th ‘SAARCFINANCE Coordinators’ meeting was organized by the SAARCFINANCE Wing, Research Department of Bangladesh Bank (BB), at Hotel InterContinental in the city on Friday. Dr Md Habibur Rahman, Deputy Governor of BB, chaired the meeting session, said a press release today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event brought together SAARCFINANCE representatives from member central banks across South Asia. Delegates from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka attended in person, while representatives from Bhutan and Pakistan joined online. As the convener of the meeting, Dr. Sayera Younus warmly welcomed all participants to the 39th SAARCFINANCE Coordinators’ Meeting in Dhaka. She noted that Bangladesh Bank has assumed the responsibility of SAARCFINANCE Chair from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, effective from October 2024 through October 2025.
Dr. Sayera reaffirmed SAARCFINANCE’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and looked forward to continued collaboration among SAARC central banks. She highlighted the significance of the meeting in reviewing progress, enhancing institutional links, and preparing for the upcoming 47th Governors’ Group Meeting and Symposium in June 2025. The Symposium will feature paper presentations from SAARC member countries on the theme ‘Financial Inclusion and Central Banking: Bridging Gaps in the SAARC Region.’ Dr. Sayera expressed gratitude to the guests and encouraged foreign delegates to explore Dhaka’s cultural heritage.
Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman emphasized the importance of the SAARCFINANCE network in fostering regional integration through dialogue, seminars, workshops, and collaborative research studies. The delegates reviewed the progress on the SAARCFINANCE Roadmap of Cooperation, focusing on the 2025-2030 frameworks. Discussions also covered the Financial Inclusion Learning Series, the Working Group on Sustainable Finance, the SAARCFINANCE Database, and the SAARC Payment Council.
Enhancements to the SAARCFINANCE Scholarship Scheme’s funding were appreciated, benefiting central bank and Ministry of Finance officials pursuing PhD and Masters’ programs. The meeting also highlighted continued collaboration on macroeconomic, financial, and inclusive development issues, particularly in the face of shared challenges like climate change. In conclusion, Dr. Rahman requested all Coordinators and Alternate Coordinators of SAARCFINANCE to convey the message to their Governors for their presence at the upcoming 47th Governors’ Group Meeting.
The SAARCFINANCE Network originated from the 10th SAARC Summit held in Colombo on July 29, 1998. The Heads of State or government of the SAARC Region agreed, in principle, to establish a “Network of Central Bank Governors and Finance Secretaries of the SAARC Region (SAARCFINANCE)” to facilitate dialogues on macro-economic policies and extend cooperation.