INVITATION: International workshop on Expanding Access to Insurance

The China Insurance Regulatory Commission, the International Association of
Insurance Supervisors, the World Bank, and the CGAP Working Group on
Microinsurance
are pleased to announce the International Workshop on
Expanding Access to Insurance
16-17 January, 2008
Hotel Intercontinental, Beijing, China
View workshop website here

In many countries, the poor are often exposed to illness, death of family
members, damage and loss of property, and weather-related losses. Insurance is a
vital tool for risk sharing and economic development, but it remains beyond the
reach of the poor. Many factors inhibit the poor from accessing or using
insurance, including: inadequate financial instruments and delivery, difficult
regulatory and operating environments for providers, inadequate information,
poor perception of risk, etc. Improving risk management and developing better
tools for spreading risks among the poorest will be critical to alleviating
poverty.

In this context, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, the International
Association of Insurance Supervisors, the World Bank and the CGAP Working Group
on Microinsurance, are pleased to organize an international workshop on
Expanding Access to Insurance that will take place 16-17 January 2008 at the
Intercontinental Hotel in Beijing, China. Senior supervisors and leading
insurance experts will deliver lectures and case studies that analyze the
development of microinsurance, compare approaches to growing the microinsurance
market, and discuss various regulatory frameworks. Chinese authorities will also
share experiences and lessons learned in enhancing insurance coverage to
underprivileged people in China. More details about this event are available
online at:
http://www.ifc.org/ifcext/economics.nsf/Content/Expanding_Access_to_Insurance.
We cordially invite you to participate in the workshop!

Organizers:
Wu Dingfu, Chairman, China Insurance Regulatory Commission
Michel Flamée, Chairman, International Association of Insurance Supervisors
Vijay Kalavakonda, Senior Insurance Specialist, Finance and Private Sector
Department, World Bank
CGAP Working Group on Microinsurance

Target Audience:
This workshop will gather senior insurance regulators and practitioners with an
interest in microinsurance from the East Asia region. Participation is by
invitation only, and will be limited to 150 guests.

Workshop Venue:
Intercontinental Hotel
No. 11 Financial Street, Xicheng District
Beijing 100034
China
Tel: +86 10 58 52 58 88, +86 10-5852-5775
Fax: +86 10 58 52 59 99
Email: ICBEIJING@INTERCONTI.COM, RESERVATIONS@INTERCONTIFSBJ.COM

For further information about this program, or to register, please contact:
Ms. Colleen Mascenik
Finance and Private Sector Learning Program
World Bank
Email: cmascenik@worldbank.org
Fax: +1 202 522 3480, Telephone: +1 202 473 7734

Registration:
There is no fee for participation in this workshop, but registration is by
invitation only. Participants are expected to cover the cost of their own travel
and accommodation in China. To register for this program, kindly send the
following information before Friday, December 21, 2007 to Ms. Colleen Mascenik
via email: cmascenik@worldbank.org or fax: +1 202 522 3480.
Mr. / Ms.
First Name: ____________________________________
Last Name: ____________________________________
Title: ____________________________________
Company: ____________________________________
Street Address: ____________________________________
City, State, ZIP code: _____________________________
Country: ____________________________________
Phone: ____________________________________
Fax: ____________________________________
Email: ____________________________________

Entry Visa:
Certain nationals will be required to obtain a visa for entry to China. For
assistance obtaining entry visa to China, please contact Ms. Xiaowu SUN,
International Department, China Insurance Regulatory Commission, Telephone: +86
10 66 28 65 97, Fax: +86 10 66 28 80 89, Email: xiaowu_sun@circ.gov.cn.

Preliminary Conference Agenda:
January 16th, 2008
8:30-9:00 Registration
9:00-10:00 Welcome Address. Wu Dingfu, Chairman, China Insurance Regulatory
Commission (CIRC); Michel Flamée, Chair of Executive Committee of the
International Association of Insurance Supervisors. Keynote Address: David
Dollar, Country Director for China, World Bank. Video presentation: ?Overview of
the microinsurance sector in China".
10:00-10:30 Tea & Coffee

10:30-12:30 PLENARY SESSION 1: The Regulation of Microinsurance ? Emerging
issues based on international experience.
Moderator: Craig Thorburn, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, Financial Systems
Unit, Finance and Private Sector Development Department, World Bank
a. "Issues in the Regulation and Supervision of Microinsurance," Brigitte
Klein, Head of Sector Project, Financial Systems Development, Deutsche
Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and Arup Chatterjee, Principal
Administrator, International Association of Insurance Supervisors
b. "Microinsurance and Regulation, A Chinese perspective," Chen Wenhui,
Assistant Chairman, China Insurance Regulatory Commission
c. "Regulation of Microinsurance, A supervisor?s perspective ? The experience
from India," C. S. Rao, Chairman, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
(IRDA), India
d. "Regulation of Micro insurance ? Current practices and issues based on a
5-country case study," Doubell Chamberlain, Finmark Trust, South Africa

12:30-14:00 Lunch

14:00-16:00 PLENARY SESSION 2: Microinsurance Product Development ? Demand and
supply side issues.
Moderator: Craig Churchill, Chairman, CGAP Working Group on Microinsurance
a. "Life Insurance for the Poor ? The experience of CARD MBA in Philippines,"
Aris Alip, Founder & Chairman, CARD, Philippines
b. "Providing Health Insurance for the Poor ? The experience from China,"
William Hsiao, K.T. Li Professor of Economics, Department of Health Policy &
Management, Harvard University
c. "Crop and Livestock Insurance for the Small and Marginal Farmers/Producers ?
An international perspective," Olivier Mahul, Senior Insurance Specialist &
Program Manager, Insurance for the Poor, World Bank
d. "Natural Disasters and Insurance for the Poor ? A reinsurer's perspective,"
Dirk Reinhard, Vice Chairman, Munich Re Foundation
16:00-16:30 Tea & Coffee

16:30-17:30 PLENARY SESSION 3: Distribution and Claims Management of
Microinsurance products.
Moderator: David Liu, Actuary, Zurich Financial Services, Beijing
a. "Overview of 'Non-traditional' Distribution Models ? Issues and challenges,"
Richard Leftley, Microinsurance Agency,USA
b. "Using Financial Intermediaries such as Banks and Microfinance Institutions
- The experience of ICICI Bank," Nachiket Mor, Chairman ICICI Foundation
c. "Use of Retailers in Distributing and Servicing the Microinsurance Market ?
Experience from Mexcio," Alfredo Honsberg, Chief Executive, Seguros Azteca,
Mexico
d. "Community-based Organizations as Franchisees for Distributing and Servicing
the Poor ? The experience from World Bank-funded projects," Shamsher Singh
Rawat, Government of Andhra Pradesh

19:30-22:00 Dinner

January 17th, 2008
9:00-10:30 PLENARY SESSION 4: Provider Types and Industry Experience.
Moderator: To be decided
a. "Mongolia Livestock Index Insurance ? Filling a market and knowledge gap,"
Olivier Mahul, Senior Insurance Specialist & Program Manager, Insurance for the
Poor, World Bank
b. "Are Multinational Corporations the Best Providers of Microinsurance, or
Should the Industry Develop Without Them?" Brandon Mathews, Head, Microinsurance
Unit, Zurich Fianncial Services
c. "The Role of Cooperatives," Sabbir Patel, Chief Financial Officer,
International Cooperative and Mutual Insurers Federation , U.K.
d. "Donor Role in Microinsurance," Craig Churchill, Chairman, CGAP Working
Group on Microinsurance.
10:30-11:00 Tea & Coffee

11:00-12:30 PLENARY SESSION 5: Consumer Protection and Disclosure.
Moderator: C.S. Rao, Chairman, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority,
India
a. "Challenges in Sales Practices of Microinsurance," Catherine Tremblay,
Savings and Insurance Expert, Development International Desjardins
b. "Transparency and Disclosure for Microinsurance," Douglas Wm. Barnert,
Executive Director, Group of North American Insurance Enterprises
c. "Policy Perspective and International Experience from ASEAN Countries," Yoko
Ogimoto, Consultant, Financial Industry Consulting Department, Nomura Research
Institute, Japan.
d. "Policy Perspective and International Experience from Country Cases,"
Martina Wiedmaier-Pfister, Consultant, Financial Systems Development Support,
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)

12:30-14:00 Lunch

14:00-16:00 PLENARY SESSION 6: Use of Technology in Increasing Access to
Insurance for the Poor.
Moderator: To be decided
a. "Insurance and Retailing ? Innovative use of technology in the
microinsurance market," David Piesse, Head of Insurance, Sun Microsystems
Worldwide
b. "Data Requirements and Performance Parameters in Microinsurance," Ann
Henstrand, ACCORD, USA
c. "Perspective from Microsoft," Donald Canning, Microsoft
d. "Regulatory Issues and Challenges in Use of Technology," Michel Flamée,
Chair of Executive Committee, International Association of Insurance Supervisors
16:00-16:30 Tea & Coffee

16:30-17:00 CONCLUDING SESSION: Closing Remarks and Moving Forward.
Valedictory Address, Zhou Yanli, Vice Chairman, China Insurance Regulatory
Authority