Queen Máxima visited Myanmar at the invitation of its government. The recently adopted Financial Inclusion Roadmap sets out how the finance and economics ministries, the central bank and the Financial Regulation Department intend to provide the country’s inhabitants with access to safe and affordable financial services. The UN believes that the country has great potential for further economic development. Good access to bank and savings accounts, insurance and pensions is essential in this regard.
The visit began on Monday, 30 March in Yangon, the country’s largest city, where Queen Máxima held talks with representatives of banks, microfinance institutions and telecom providers. It is important for these organisations to work together if more people are to make use of financial services. Mobile banking is a key tool for obtaining access to financial services.
On Tuesday, 31 March, Queen Máxima delivered a speech at Yangon University on the importance of access to financial services. She also visited local entrepreneurs near Yangon who have been able to expand their businesses with the help of small loans.
On Wednesday, 1 April, Queen Máxima attended the launch of the Financial Inclusion Roadmap in the capital Nay Pyi Taw. There she met with representatives of Myanmar’s government, central bank and parliament, among others, to discuss the importance of access to financial services for the development of the country’s people.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Queen Máxima as his Special Advocate in September 2009. In this capacity, she advises him on access to financial services and she also promotes access to financial services for people all over the world. This contributes to the development of low-income groups and small and medium-sized enterprises in particular.
Since June 2011 Queen Máxima has been Honorary Chair of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI).
Source: http://www.
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