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Highlights of the monthly activities of the ASSOCIATION OF ASIAN CONFEDERATION OF CREDIT UNIONS

Management Report Happy International Credit Union Day!

“Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is a success.” Henry Ford

Firstly, the ACCU would like to

express our highest gratitude to

the first founders of credit union,

Herman Schulze-Delitzsch and

Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen, and

many supporters who put the

idea of financial cooperatives

into a reality.

Currently, credit unions

around the world are helping

the underdogs achieve basic

freedom to development,

financial stability, and

fundamental capabilities to help

members reach their financial

destinations.

Since 1948, on the 3rd Thursday

of every October, we celebrate the

International Credit Union Day

to remind ourselves the history

of credit union movements and

its on-going achievements and

to appreciate every credit union

members who put their hard work

into making credit union industry

resilient to social insecurities and

evolving global market.

Therefore, the International

Credit Union Day provides us

a wonderful opportunity to

celebrate not only within one

credit union, but to rejoice

together with other fellow

credit unions and associations

around the world our honorable

accomplishments that bring

about people’s socio-economic

development.

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On October 13th, 2015, the ACCU Board Members - President Dr. Chalermpol, Treasurer Rishi Raj Ghimire, Secretary Roberto Estoconing

and CEO Leni San Roque, joined hand in hand with NACUFOK Chairman and President Dr. Moon, Chul-Sang to celebrate the 55th

year Anniversary of the credit union movement of Korea which took place in the city of Daejeon, South Korea. At the event, Dr. Moon

addressed remarkably to the public the main principles of how credit unions achieve success: leaders who uphold ethical values, hard

work to overcome challenges, and a cooperative working team. With these essentials in place, Dr. Moon said the cooperative movement

can surely climb the highest mountain and safeguards its members against social and economic underdevelopment.

NACUFOK Celebrates Its 55th Year Anniversary!

NATCCO Delegates Learn From Thai Credit Unions and ACCU

ACCU welcomed Thirty-Nine (39) credit union leaders

and staff to Thailand on October 14-18, 2015. The

international study visit was organized by the National

Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO) of the Philippines.

Besides visiting ACCU, the program included visit to the

Credit Union League of Thailand in Bangkok and three (3)

additional credit unions in Phetchaburi province namely

Credit Union Rongriaen Wadnong Kae, Nong Kratum

Phudtana Credit Union Cooperative Ltd. and Nongkhanang

Credit Union Cooperative Ltd.

The visit highlighted some of the best practices implemented by the credit

unions in Petchaburi such as “Ordinary Welfare Loans” where loans were

granted in the form of commodities instead of cash depending on the

member’s requirement. The process helps prevent the misuse of the loans

being granted.

The types of ordinary welfare loans that are tailored to the needs of members

are education, computer, residence, motorcycle, operation equipment, and

agricultural related products such as fertilizers, medicines, food or livestock.

Majority of the delegates were impressed with the best practices and expressed

desire to adapt the best practices and implement at their credit unions.

3

Management Report ACCU Welcomed the Former

Rabobank Executive

DAMC Pays a Visit to the ACCU’s Office in BangkokThe Department of Agricultural

Marketing Cooperatives (DAMC)

visited the ACCU’s regional office

in Bangkok Thailand on October

8th, 2015. Its perceptive visit to

Bangkok provided the DAMC a

resourceful opportunity to learn

more about credit unions, in

which has helped the organization

expand its vision on plans to

promote credit cooperatives in

Bhutan.

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On October 30th, 2015, the ACCU delightedly

welcomed Kees Jasperse and his wife to the

ACCU office in Bangkok, Thailand. As a retired

Rabobank Executive, Mr. Jasperse’s volunteer

technical assistance and financial contribution

has moved the Interlending program, Savings

and Credit Unions Development in Lao PDR

(SACUDIL), to the next level. During the visit,

Mr. and Mrs. Jasperse expressed their positive

gratitude toward credit union as a people’s

vehicle for achieving financial independence.

The two parties were on their way to Laos to

offer a 3-day consultation workshop for the

managers and Board of savings and credit

unions. The ACCU is surely looking forward to

their future visit to Bangkok.

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The Project Manager offers insightful job trainings to SCU staff and credit committee, focusing mainly on the topic of loan investigation.

SACUDIL project staff continues to help CU members monitor their daily records and loan applications. So far, the services have reached many new credit unions in provinces such as Oudomxay and Luangnamtha.

Phonsavang is facing with the accumulation of data and difficulties from countless daily accounting

transactions. To properly manage the SCU accounting system, the ACCU joined hand with the Rajeeda, an IT

company from Sri Lanka. As the collaboration progresses on, the implementation of the Credit Union Business

Information System or “CUBIS” has enhanced the CU’s ability to efficiently collect and install numerous

accounting information. The program development training will be held in November 2015.

Credit Unions are confronting various problems such as, but not limited to, loan delinquency and

governance issues. Several project and government partners were engaged in a discussion meeting to

formulate solutions and restore CU operation.

CUBIS Is Expanding CU’s Accounting Capability

How SACUDIL Remains as a Center Project for Community Development in Laos

Myanmar SCC News

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UNCDF Conducts Monitoring Mission to ACCU-CCS Project in

MyanmarMs Ivana Damjanov, UNCDF MicroLead Program Specialist

(Africa), Ms. Francesca Cioni (Asia Pacific) and Ms. Virginia

Chimenti (Myanmar) was on monitoring mission to ACCU-CCS

Project in Myanmar conducted last October 20 and 21, 2015.

They visited Shwe Khit SCC in Hinthada Township with 561

members who happily shared that it is the first time for them to

have ever saved in their lives. The project attempts to transform

the cooperative landscape in Myanmar as a financial institution

that helps people improve lives through quality and need based

financial services.

The second day of the mission was a series of meetings with

Central Cooperative Society (CCS) and Union of Monetary

Cooperatives (UMCL), where UMCL Strategic Plan for 2016-2018

was presented to the Monitoring Team.

ACCU-CCS Presented Cooperative Development in

Women’s Meet

ACCU-CCS took the opportunity to present principles and practices of

a sustainable savings and credit cooperatives to women leaders from

different regions in Myanmar during the Launch of ‘May Doe Kabar’

National Network of Inspiring Rural Women held in Inya Lake Hotel in

Yangon last October 14, 2015.

The event was organized by United Nation Development Program and

features various topics including Women Leadership, Women’s Equal

Rights, Women and Local Governance and Women and Media.

ACCU-CCS specifically discussed on the Role of Savings and Credit

Cooperatives in Empowering Women.

Currently, ACCU-CCS Project in Myanmar has 56% women

membership, 54% of SCC Managers are women and 25% of the Board

of Directors are women.

Myanmar SCC News

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ACCU provided technical assistance in developing the 2016-2018

Strategic Plan and 2016 Tactical Plan of Union of Monetary Cooperatives

Limited (UMCL), Myanmar’s national federation of cooperatives engaged

in savings and credit.

The goal is to reach 100,000 members with Kyats 500 Shares and Savings

weekly, to promote and develop the habit and discipline of saving.

ACCU is currently looking for development partners for financial support

for the implementation of this cooperative development project in

Myanmar

Shwe Khit SCC Serves Members in New Office

After more than one of serving members from the house of SCC

Manager, Shwe SCC moved to its new office strategically located within

the quarters and villages that it serve in Hinthada Township.

Shwe Khit SCC has 531 members who are first time savers. 90% of the

members come from rural villages.

Currently, total Shares and Savings of the members amount to 19 Million

Kyats. Outstanding loans to members is 25 Million Kyats.

Financial Inclusion in Remote Myanmar Village

Pearl Shwe Zin SCC in Yaykyi Village in Letpadan Township can only

be reached by a two-hour motorcycle trip 25 miles from the national

highway.

Just 20 months after the SCC was established, it has now 669 members

with total Shares and Savings of 21 Million Kyats. All members are saving

for the first time in their lives.

Last September, 50 schoolchildren started their savings habit under the

SCCs school-based YouthBee Savings Program.