press releases

Better Risk Assessment Skills In Banks To Increase The Flow Of Credit To The Private Sector

Lusaka
November 30, 2006

Beginning November 30, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Zambia is sponsoring a “Credit Risk Management, Agriculture and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)” conference and training program for Zambian financial institutions. The Bankers’ Association of Zambia and the Zambian Institute of Banking and Financial Services are co-sponsors of the program.

The program consists of three separate events. The first is a summit meeting for senior bankers on “How to Earn Profits and Manage Risks in SME and Agricultural Lending.” This will be followed by a five-day training course covering “Fundamentals of Credit Analysis, Credit Administration and Loan Recovery,” targeting credit analysis professionals. The final event is a roundtable discussion for senior bankers and agricultural entrepreneurs titled, “Two Perspectives on Barriers to Agricultural Credit.”. The roundtable will provide a unique opportunity for bankers and agribusinesses to work together to develop ways to improve access to financial services in the agricultural sector. All three events will be held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka.

The “Credit Risk Management, SMEs and Agriculture” conference and training program was specifically designed to respond to the needs of Zambian institutions. Earlier in the year, USAID conducted an assessment on training needs with representatives from nine commercial banks as well as the Bank of Zambia and several SMEs. The above programs address the needs and objectives that were expressed during those meetings.

The program is part of USAID’s PROFIT (Production, Finance and Technology) Project, which is a five year program that targets production, finance and improved technology as a means to foster increased economic growth and reduced poverty in rural Zambia.

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