Building a financially inclusive Asia

Dr. Jaime Aristotle B Alip (center), the founder and chairman of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), visited Oikocredit in Amersfoort, the Netherlands on March 21, 2018. Dr. Alip discussed with Thos Gieskes (left), Oikocredit managing director, the potential partnership of providing microinsurance and microfinance services in Cambodia and Indonesia, respectively. CARD MRI has been providing technical assistance on microinsurance and microfinance in the said countries.

Moreover, Ging Ledesma (right), Oikocredit director of investor relations and social performance, joined the discussion to advance the proposed post-harvest processing facility that will enhance the marketability of the CARD MRI clients’ agricultural produce.

On March 22, Dr. Alip also met Franz Gossen, Cordaid deputy director, and discussed the continuing partnership with CARD MRI’s service company in Myanmar, the CARD Myanmar Co. Ltd. (CMCL). The CMCL was established in 2014 and is the first microfinance company of CARD MRI outside the Philippines.

“Our microfinance operations at CMCL is based on CARD MRI’s technology in the Philippines. It’s like bringing our best practices from the Philippines for the Burmese nationals,” said Dr. Alip.

On the same day, Dr. Alip also grabbed the opportunity to discuss with Mr. Dirk Brouwer of ASA International the continuing investment partnership of CARD MRI with ASA International in other Southeast Asian countries. The ASA International is CARD MRI’s investment partner in Cambodia.

“We at CARD MRI are inspired to continue reinforce our efforts of eradicating poverty because of the fervent support of our partners. All these efforts are our way of building a financially inclusive Asia,” Dr. Alip concluded.