Morning

8.00- 9.00             

Reception and registration of participants

9.00-9.50

Opening Remarks

Mr. Cosme Sehlin,  Minister of Economy and Finance, Benin

·         Election of the Chair

·         Election of the Rapporteur

·         Adoption of the agenda and work programme of the meeting

9.50-10.05

10.05-10.20

10.20-11.00

First Session: Overview

Analytical Overview of Migrant Remittances

Presentation by: Dilip Ratha, Senior Economist, Development Prospects Group, International Finance Team   

Remittances to LDCs and Policies & Practices Governing their Flow and Use

Presentation by: Nilim Baruah, IOM,  Head of Labour Migration Service

Moderator: Representative of the West African Development Bank

Discussion

11.00-11.15

Tea/coffee break

11.15-11.30

11.30-12.00

12.00-12.30

12.30-13.15

13.15-15.00

Second Session: Improving Remittance Services

Core Principles, Strategies and Initiatives in Improving Remittance Services

Presentation by: Governor of the Central Bank of West African States

Lowering Costs and Expanding Access and Provision of Information

Presentation by: LDC government (Bangladesh)

Discussant: Director of Western Union in Benin

Partnerships

Presentation by: Fonkoze, Micro-Finance NGO, Haiti

Discussants: Uganda Microfinance Union (UMU), Avenir NEPAD International, National private sector representatives (Haiti, Benin, Uganda),

Moderator: Representative of the West African Development Bank

Discussion

Lunch

Afternoon

15.00-15.50

15.50-16.05

16.05-16.20

16.20-17.20

Third Session: Enhancing the development impact of remittances

Policy Options for Enhancing the Development Impact of Remittances

the Role of Migrant Associations and Home Town Associations

Presentations by: Donald Kaberuka, President of African Development Bank Minister of Planning and Development in Benin

Manuel Orozco, Inter-American Dialogue

Yiping Zhou, Director Special Unit for Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, UNDP

The Role of Migrant Associations and Home Town Associations

Presentation by: Afford U.K. or Africa Recruit

Discussants: Senior Official from the Ministry of Finance of Senegal

Financial Development Institution from Asia, Senior Official of the Ministry of Planning and Development of a Central African LDC Country

Representative of the High Council of Beninese Abroad

 Leveraging Remittances: Role of Banks and Financial Institutions

Presentation by: Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank or Asian Development Bank

Discussants: African Development Bank and IFAD

Discussion

17.20-17.35

Tea/coffee break

17.35-18.35

Session on draft outcome of the Conference

·         Consideration of the draft outcome of the Conference

·         Adoption of the report of the meeting

19.00

Reception (hosted by Benin)