new generation of filipinos who are adept in managing their own resources and in strengthening the country ’ s financial system. let us cooperate therefore in implementing this breakthrough program. indeed, it should be another busy year for all of us. i therefore call on the officers and members of bmap to assist the bangko sentral in ensuring the successful implementation of these reforms and advocacies. we will again count on your support and commitment to these programs. together, let us forge an even stronger partnership as we continue to foster stability in the financial system and secure more sustainable and higher growth path for our economy. finally, i thank your outgoing officers – led by bobby banaag – for a job well done and congratulate the new set of bmap officers – headed by mike villareal – on the successive breakthroughs they will set during their term. mabuhay ang bmap! mabuhay ang pilipinas! maraming salamat sa inyong lahat!

sense of ownership, but also assure ourselves that we are building together a member - governed and member - driven organization that is sustainable. as such, crucial and practical issues such as the membership fee structures and related recommendations on membership rights and participation will be discussed. secondly, the rigorous work of the sub - committee on host country evaluation will be presented to us for our appreciation. the choice of the future home of afi is a crucial milestone in our journey to become an independent institution. thus, it is with a sense of excitement that i inform you that the newly selected afi host country will be announced shortly. thirdly, the independence sub - committee chair, governor njuguna ndung ’ u of kenya will outline the governance recommendations that will determine how the independent afi will be steered toward our collective mission of adopting and expanding effective, inclusive financial policies in developing nations. bis central bankers ’ speeches with these, all members are encouraged to be proactive in the discussions. your insights and contributions to the many important issues will enrich the process and ultimately strengthen afi. the important agenda i have just outlined – charting our way toward independence, governance issues, and the conferment of the new afi host country – will allow us to advance our strength as one body and our partnership for the ultimate betterment of the poor people we target to serve. on a final and a more personal note, let me take this opportunity to thank all of you for your personal commitment and individual contribution to afi over the years. after this forum, i will be stepping down as the steering committee chair – a role which has been a privilege and a joy to hold, in large measure due to all your support. warm thanks to my colleagues at the steering committee who have shared their expertise in building and providing strategic guidance to afi ; to the management unit – the team that has made our afi work seamless and efficient ; to all the members – the bright minds behind our financial inclusion policies and various programs that are truly making a difference ; to all those who made afi programs and initiatives a success through their effective organization of activities and events ; our sincerest gratitude to all of you. i am pleased to announce that superintendent daniel schydlowsky of peru is the incoming chairman of the steering committee. i will, of course, stay on as an active member of afi and will remain committed in sharing our institutional knowledge, and, being a personal advocate of financial inclusion, in advancing afi ’ s global mandate. my colleagues and friends,