These imperatives translate into significant demands on human capital development. New talent development strategies are needed, as well as a critical re-assessment of the existing content and approach to training for the financial industry workforce to ensure their continued relevance, within a broader regional context. This represents a significant challenge and an important priority for Asia. In order to bring talent development to the next level, there is scope to pursue meaningful strategic partnerships in financial sector education and training. With growing cross-border linkages of the region’s financial systems, there are significant benefits to be gained from improving the quality and consistency of standards in financial sector training in the region. 4  BIS central bankers’ speeches  On collaboration in financial industry training This conference represents a unique collaborative opportunity to discuss current issues and trends in human capital development in the banking sector across different financial systems within the Asia Pacific region. The efforts of APABI in providing this platform should therefore be well leveraged by its member institutes. Given the varying levels of financial sector development across the region, there will be tremendous benefit in the sharing of ideas and methodology on human capital development especially in newly introduced areas in banking and finance. In Malaysia, our approach to human capital talent development is also founded on the collaborative approach.

This can be seen from recent evidence of financial institutions in the region that have successfully adopted “double bottom line” strategies that combine enhanced financial access goals with profitability, thus enabling the financial inclusion agenda to be achieved in a responsible and sustainable manner. Institutions in several parts of Asia have been effective in utilising innovative means of outreach to overcome geographical and cost barriers in delivering essential financial services such as microcredit, affordable insurance, avenues for savings, and accessible payments and remittance services. Governments in the region continue with measures to bridge the gap with the necessary financial infrastructure, developing rules for orderly and responsible business conduct, and catalysing the volume of financial transactions by channelling social transfers, wages or pensions through the formal financial system. Such advancements by the region in financial inclusion contribute towards eradicating poverty and uplifting living standards. As growth in the region continues, it will become even more important to ensure that such growth does not further widen the social divide and disenfranchise those who remain excluded from its benefits. An inclusive growth process in the region, which draws marginalised segments into the formal financial system and that empowers small businesses and consumers already within the financial system to better utilise financial services, will enhance the contribution of this segment of the population to the economic growth process. Fourth, is the greater regional economic and financial integration in Asia which has been supported by strengthened institutional frameworks for safeguarding regional financial stability and a deepening of regional cooperation.