step, you, the people of ra would be better informed about these financial services. not only that, but we would like to see your new micro business initiatives given timely support, resulting in sustainable businesses. but let me say that financial inclusion is not only about all the stakeholders providing financial training and financial services to you. it must be a two - way thing, where those of you who are bis central bankers ’ speeches receiving these services and training will use it to work hard and make better lives for your families. in this way we will work ourselves out of the poverty which many of our fellow fijians often speak about, and we will enjoy better living standards. theme and implication for financial inclusion ladies and gentlemen, the theme this year for the ra financial inclusion exposition is “ green growth, sustainable livelihood ” the province of ra has a lot of natural resources and is basically an agro - forestry based province. there is a lot of dependency on marine and land resources. green growth is all about making the best use of what you have around you in your natural surroundings that will help you better your living standards. developing micro, small and medium businesses from the use of your natural resources in order to grow your family ’ s economic wellbeing, will also contribute to the wider growth of our economy. at the same time the prudent management of these resources can be better done in a manner that will ensure sustainable livelihood. farmers or villages can use supportive energy efficient technologies ( such as energy saving light bulbs and solar dryers ). you can limit or recycle waste material, and use soil and water conservation and sustainable agriculture methods to ensure sustainable livelihood. for the people of ra, financial inclusion can complement your efforts to grow your livelihood. it will help you learn to be better money managers and have the appropriate financial services, products and advice that will help you grow and at the same time ensure sustainable practices. this is where we believe financial literacy, or knowing how to manage money, plays a key role. this is an important life skill that is needed by all if we are to maintain sustainable conservation practices. conclusion ladies and gentlemen, this two - day financial inclusion exposition in rakiraki will provide the community with an opportunity to learn more about the services offered by the different stakeholders. the occasion is designed to be educational and at the same time to have some fun. there are also lots of games and giveaways for the children and the entire family. i urge you all to try and

reserve bank of fiji _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ address by governor of the reserve bank of fiji barry whiteside rd at the 3 anniversary celebrations of hfc bank 4 march 2017 mr tom ricketts. chairman of the hfc bank board members of the board mr raj sharma, acting chief executive officer management and staff members of the media invited guests ladies and gentlemen bula vinaka and a very good morning to you all! introductory comments i am pleased to join you in celebrating this special day, marking the 3rd anniversary of hfc bank ’ s operations as a commercial bank. i always welcome such opportunities to celebrate the achievements of our licensed financial institutions as they confirm to us the commitment and resilience they have to continue to serve our people. the fijian financial system has evolved significantly into a modern, reputable and stable one, which has safely steered our economy through the past two decades, and is considered the most advanced amongst our pacific island countries. three years ago when the reserve bank of fiji first received an application for a commercial banking licence by home finance company limited there was a bit of hesitancy on our part to accept the proposal. however, with the acknowledgement of the performance of hfc as a licensed credit institution for 18 years, the commitment of strong shareholders, and also the strengthening of the reserve bank ’ s own regulatory capacity, it was agreed that it was an opportune time to allow a locally owned bank to operate. it was, however, not a light decision as hfc bank will acknowledge, with the reserve bank setting high expectations for the institution and continuing to closely liaise on necessary regulatory matters, in line with our mandate of protecting fijian depositors. i therefore wish to congratulate the shareholders of hfc bank, its board, management and staff for this milestone we are celebrating today, achieved through great dedication and teamwork. hfc bank ladies and gentlemen, from the humble beginnings of a home loan provider in 1962 and later as a licensed credit institution with services limited to providing term deposits and loans limited to mortgage financing, hfc today boasts a vast offering of financial services akin to other banks in fiji. substantial and necessary investment into its technological platform has