- Annual research Conference will put a spotlight on banking and its role in economic infrastructure development in the context of Kenya
Nairobi, September 18, 2015: The Kenya Bankers Association Centre for Research on Financial Market and Policy will hold its fourth annual research conference on September 24th and 25th 2015. The theme of the conference is: “Banking and Economic Infrastructure Development – Kenya’s Experience and Prospects”.
The two-day conference, which will be officially opened by the Governor of the Central Bank Governor Dr. Patrick Njoroge, will explore various ways to increase private sector participation in infrastructure provision, the requisite financing needs and the role of the banking industry in meeting such financing needs in the context of Kenya.
The papers lined up for the conference will explore:
- The space of commercial banks in infrastructure financing
- The Kenyan banking industry’s capacity to finance infrastructure projects
- Economic infrastructure-agricultural productivity nexus, particularly the extent to which banks can support agriculture-linked infrastructure as a means complementing government’s efforts to boost agriculture productivity;
- Islamic banking and infrastructure development; and
- Syndication as a mechanism for financing infrastructure in Kenya.
For the past four years, Kenya Bankers Association has been hosting conferences with the aim of providing a platform for deep engagement on issues meant to entrench the banking industry in the economy’s development aspirations.
About Kenya Bankers Association (KBA)
Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) is the financial sector’s leading advocacy group and banking industry umbrella body that represents total assets in excess of Ksh. 3.3 trillion. The members are comprised of the 46 banks that are licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya. These banks are represented by their Chief Executive Officers, who appoint a Governing Council to oversee industry wide activities on the General Body’s behalf. The Governing Council is supported by various Committees and Sub-Committees which are comprised of nominated bank representatives. These committees coordinate activities with the KBA Secretariat. In the year 2012, the Association founded the Centre for Research on Financial Markets and Policy, whose mandate is to offer research, commentary, and dialogue regarding critical policy matters that impact on financial markets in Kenya. The Centre sponsors original research work, provides intuitive commentary, and hosts dialogues and conferences involving scholars and practitioners on key financial market issues. Through these activities, the Centre acts as a platform for intellectual engagement and dialogue between financial market experts, the banking sector and the policy makers in Kenya. It therefore contributes to an informed discussion that influences critical financial market debates and policies.