More than two hundred finance and investment practitioners from all over the Asia-Pacific region recently converged in Manila for the 9th Pacific Region Investment Conference, organized by the Asia Pacific Association for Fiduciary Studies (APAFS). This is the fourth time that the conference has been held in Manila.

The Pacific Region Investment Conference is envisioned to be the premier investment conference in the region. Held annually, it features world-class experts to speak to participants composed mainly of members of fiduciary institutions, investment managers, and other finance professionals. The conference is designed to link training with regional understanding of current and relevant issues.

“We organize the Pacific Region Investment Conference each year because we foresee that Asia will be the area of growth in the future. We are working to continually equip the region and build its professional accountability as markets mature,” says Daniel Roland, CIMA, Director of APAFS.

Since 2000, APAFS has served to provide guidance and leadership for fiduciary institutions and investment professionals in the Asia Pacific region. The Association has embraced its role as an educator on financial literacy, consistently pushing for responsible fund management and prudent stewardship. Also, part of APAFS mission is to celebrate Asia’s culture and unique practices that play a part in the region’s diverse economies.

This year, Emerging Markets expert, Dr. Mark Mobius headlined the conference and shed light on the outlook of investing in emerging markets. Dr. Mobius is currently the President of Templeton Emerging Markets. Among his many recognitions, he was named one of the “Top 100 Most Powerful and Influential People” by Asiamoney magazine in 2006. He received his Ph.D in Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Mobius was joined by local Philippine finance leaders from premier organizations and institutions such as the Philippine Stock Exchange, Chartered Financial Analysts Society of the Philippines, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific, and the Trust Officers Association of the Philippines.

The 9th Pacific Region Investment Conference was held last October 8 and 9, 2009 at the Renaissance Makati City Hotel Manila. More than 300 participants from countries all over the Asia Pacific Region such as Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam and the Philippines congregated for two days of networking with fellow fiducaries and listening to updates of global experts regarding issues that move the finance and economic industries. For more information, log on to www.apafs.org.

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About APAFS: The Asia Pacific Association for Fiduciary Studies (APAFS) a non-profit educational association with the aim of providing educational forums for fiduciaries in the region. It was formed by a forward thinking group of fiduciaries throughout Asia in 2000.