On February 16, 2004, more than 1,200 participants from 47 countries gathered at the Asia/Pacific Region Microcredit Summit (APRMS) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This issue features a workshop discussion on Successful Management Strategies to Reduce Cost and Improve Efficiency. Presentations were made by Mr. Shushil Kumar Roy, General Manager, ASA, Bangladesh; Prof. H.I. Latifee, Managing Director, Grameen Trust, Bangladesh; Mr. Raman Uberoi, Director-Financial Sectors Ratings, CRISIL, India; Ms. Amy De Los Santos, Director, Field Operation and Client Management Services, TSPI Development Corporation, Phillippines; and Ms. Sadaffe Abid Manager Microfinance Programme of Kashf Foundations. The session was chaired by Dr. Ranjith Hettiarachchi, CEO, ACCU in Thailand. Also featured is the plenary presentation given by Nancy Barry, President of Women's World Banking on the topic of Policies, Regulation, Governance and Systems that Promote Sustainable Financial Institutions for Poor and the Poorest.

We welcome your comments and suggestions about our newsletter and how we can better serve you.