NBTI to host first directors' conference

National Banking Training Institute (NBTI), jointly with International Finance Corporation (IFC) of World Bank Group, will host the first ever Directors’ Conference on April 18.

The conference — expected to be attended by over 100 directors of companies listed at Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) — is aimed at creating a knowledge sharing platform amongst directors of listed companies.

Currently, there are 226 listed companies at Nepse with a combined paid up capital of Rs 121 billion. There are more than 2,000 board of directors governing all the listed companies.

The listed companies have different dynamics compared to privately owned businesses and governance of the companies requires advanced knowledge, skills and expertise preferably in the core areas of operation.

The board room governance issue has been posing a challenge worldwide and Nepal is no exception, according to NBTI.

NBTI, in its role as an apex banking academy of the country, has attempted to bridge the gap through various interactions at the board level and the directors' conference is one such new initiative that will bridge the gap and create a formal platform for regular interaction and knowledge sharing of directors, who have a huge responsibility to safeguard shareholders' interest besides the company's too.

The conference will see chairmen and directors themselves presenting papers on good governance and their responsibility, apart from imparting knowledge and skills required at the board level.

Central bank governor Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada, deputy governor Maha Prasad Adhikary, corporate governance expert from IFC Juan Carlos Fernandez Zara , Nabil Bank chairman KB Manandhar, and former chief executive of Bank of Asia Nepal Parshuram Chhetri will address the conference.