Kent Business School welcomed Mr Ehsanul Haque, Banker and Consultant as guest speaker for an open guest lecture to all students and staff held at the School on October 21, 2011. Entitled “The Role of Financial Institutions in Transforming Developing Economics”, Mr Haque gave a useful insight into the many factors surrounding financial growth in emerging economies.
With over 30 years experience in the commercial banking industry within developing countries, Mr Haque has established a bank in a challenging environment in Afghanistan, becoming the first CEO and having worked in Bangladesh and India, provided a candid presentation of his experience in these emerging economies, talking through some aspects that contribute to these countries’ financial commerce development. Aspects such population and demographics, political, financial, cultural and economic profiles, as well as the challenges they face in today’s markets, Mr Haque shared his understanding on the role that banks have played, and will continue to play, in the economic development of emerging countries.
The presentation gave an insight into aspects influencing the changes; the creation of entrepreneurs, private sector growth, the increasing use of global money transfers as well as the development of agriculture and the empowerment of the middle classes and of women, partly attributed to increased education, health and fertility.
With a significant experience of setting up Micro-Finance in rising economies, Mr Haque provided an overview of the role of Micro-Finance in Afghanistan, India and Bangladesh and how they provide collateral, free loans and other financial services to low income clients which consequently play a significant role in improving social indicators. He also discussed the role of the SME’s, with how they differ as well as benefit each region. The generation of small and medium size enterprises which has brought large scale employment, supports sustainability, diversity and long term economic growth, with a critical review of the financial sector transformation over the last 3 decades.
The presentation was well received, and there was great interest in the ensuing question and answer session with students.
Speaker Biography:
Mr Eshanul Hague has been CEO of various banks and financial institutions in Bangladesh and Afghanistan during the last 8 years and is presently a Consulting Practioner, following his 32 years of success of managing and leading various organisations and projects in both financial and development sectors.
With a diverse banking experience in multinational and Bangladeshi Banks plus his work in Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, India and Vietnam, Mr Haque is an organised problem solver with excellent interpersonal skills, relationship building with the business community and with Public and Government agencies. Known for building cross-functional teams that exceed corporate expectations, he has provided consultation from bankers to businesses of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) and renewable energy projects with experience in managing large, complex banking operations, innovation, sales of Corporate/Commercial, Retail and Asset, Liability products.