Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1696577682137.pdf (Vanuatu)
RESERVE BANK OF VANUATU PMB 9062 – PIERRE BRUNET STREET– PORT VILA – VANUATU TEL: (678) 23333 – FAX: (678) 24231 EMAIL: rbvinfo@rbv.gov.vu WEBSITE: www.rbv.gov.vu PRESS RELEASE Press Release No:5/2017 Date: May 18, 2017 Telephone: (678) 23333 Facsimile: (678) 24231 Email: resrvbnk.gov.vu The Reserve Bank of Vanuatu (RBV) Hosts the ‘‘2017 RBV Economic Symposium’’ on Financial Inclusion in Vanuatu The RBV hosted the ‘‘2017 RBV Economic Symposium’’ at the Warwick Le Lagon Vanuatu in Port Vila on May 17, 2017 with the theme “Enhancing Financial Inclusion for a More Equitable, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development’’.
The aim of the symposium was to consult with stakeholders as part of the process of formulating the next round of the national financial inclusion strategies in Vanuatu.

The symposium followed the completion of two major surveys conducted by the RBV and its partners, including the financial inclusion Demand-Side Survey and the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) Survey on access and usage of financial services by the adult population and the MSME business sector in Vanuatu.
In his Keynote Address, the Acting Prime Minister, the Honourable Ham Lini Vanuaroroa, assured the Government’s strong support for the financial inclusion agenda in Vanuatu.

He noted that ‘‘financial inclusion must form an important component of an inclusive and sustainable development in Vanuatu’’ and must be elevated to be part of the Vanuatu National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) - “Vanuatu 2030: The People’s Plan”.
He also called on donor partners who have supported the work of the Pacific Financial Inclusion Program (PFIP) in the region to consider a separate bilateral program for Vanuatu on the financial inclusion agenda.

In his opening remarks, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu (RBV), Mr. Simeon Athy said that “Financial Inclusion should be viewed as the linchpin through which small island countries like Vanuatu can advance their economic development”.
The symposium discussed the findings of the two surveys as input to the symposium deliberations and, together with the PFIP and the Government, declared the two surveys officially launched.

Simeon Malachi Athy Governor