On January 22nd and 23rd, Triple Jump attended the first ever edition of the Asia Financial Institutions Forum in Bangkok. As sponsors of the event, Triple Jump participated in two panel discussions.
Senior Investment Officer Begaim Sadyrova spoke on the affordable housing panel where she highlighted the work Triple Jump has done with the Microbuild Fund (MBF). With MBF, funding for affordable housing products, for example home improvement loans, is combined with technical assistance provided by Habitat for Humanity. The panel highlighted the need for long term funding matching with the loan products provided to low-income end-clients.
Regional Manager Freek Kortekaas participated in the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) panel discussing the importance and need for adequate funding to MSME’s. Many of these enterprises have outgrown microfinance but are being overlooked by banks, the so-called ‘missing middle’. Triple Jump is addressing MSME funding needs through the Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF) and the ASN-Novib Microcredit Fund financing a wide variety of institutions focusing on the MSME segment.
Overall, the Asia Financial Institutions Forum was well attended with over 500 delegations from more than 20 different countries. In addition to interesting panels on a wide range of topics, specific country sessions were organized for a further deep-dive in specific markets. Triple Jump is looking forward to the second edition next year.
