European Microfinance Week 2015

Christoph PAUSCH, Executive Secretary of the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP),  opened European Microfinance Week (EMW) 2015, by welcoming more than 450 participants. This year a record number of financial institutions, government and international agencies, NGOs, investors, academics and support providers from 67 countries came together at the Abbaye de Neumünster in Luxembourg. With the theme of Financial Inclusion for Sustainable Development the conference’s objective would be to explore a wealth of ideas on how we can innovate in providing financial services in a sustainable and scalable way. After a brief overview of the exciting programme ahead for the coming days, Pausch emphasized the new app and social media tools to help participants network more effectively. Finally he mentioned his gratitude to the speakers, moderators, sponsors and funders which made European Microfinance Week 2015 possible.

Anne CONTRERAS, e-MFP Chairwoman also welcomed the participants to the conference on behalf of the e-MFP Board and Secretariat. Before introducing the first plenary session, she referred to the tragic event in Paris on 13th November and asked for a moment of silence for the victims and their families of this and other recent terrorist attacks around the world, including Nigeria and Lebanon.