Panagiotis (Panos) Tournavitis

How can microfinance institutions navigate the challenges of a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex & Ambiguous) world and better assist vulnerable categories?   At the European Microfinance Network conference in Bucharest last week, Dan Cojocaru (Banca Transilvania BT Mic | STUP), Jaime Durán Navarro (European Commission), Iliuta Jitaru (Patria Credit), Vlad Mihut (ROMCOM), Silke Mueffelmann (Frankfurt School of Finance & Management) and or CEO Peter Surek delved into this topic, focusing on the Romanian microfinance sector.   Main messages of Peter Surek: ➡️ Microfinance institutions need to diligently measure and effectively communicate the social impact of their activities. ➡️ There's a call to explore new impact areas like education and housing, leveraging microfinance tools to address these social issues. ➡️ Collaboration with public, non-profit, and corporate sectors is crucial. By designing specific initiatives through public-private-social partnerships, we can unlock the sector's development potential.   #Microfinance #SocialImpact #FinancialInclusion #VUCAWorld   📷: Erste Social Finance Holding

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You are still on time to register for today's SIFTA webinar on outcome-based contracting. Registrations are available at👉 https://lnkd.in/ddgA22qA Social Inclusive Finance Technical Assistance (SIFTA) | Reinforcing the European Microfinance and Social Enterprise Finance sectors #InvestEU #EIB #AdvisoryHub #microfinance #socialfinance

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🚀 Transforming Microfinance in Romania: Key Insights from the 2019-2023 Benchmarking Report 🚀 I'm excited to share some pivotal findings from the latest Romanian MicroFinance Association benchmarking report, which covers the evolution and impact of microfinance in Romania over the past five years. 🔍 Key Highlights: 📈 Growth Surge: The microcredit portfolio saw an 80% increase, with active clients rising by 9%. 🌐 Digital Leap: 94% of MFIs have adopted digital signatures, and 65% have digitized their loan processes. 👥 Productivity Boost: Fintechs in the sector now serve an average of 142 clients per employee. 💡 Sector Achievements: Stable Portfolio Quality: Maintained despite the pandemic, showcasing the sector's resilience. Operational Sustainability: Long-established and mature MFIs continue to thrive. Inclusive Growth: 60% of loans went to women, and 24% supported rural clients. 🏆 Challenges and Opportunities: Legal Framework: There's a need for improved regulatory support for credit unions. Funding: Continued reliance on European programs, with new opportunities emerging through collaborations. For a detailed analysis and more insights, check out the full report 👉 https://lnkd.in/dqaqJQ5Y Let's continue to support and promote the growth of microfinance in Romania, fostering financial inclusion and economic empowerment for all! 💪🇷🇴 #Microfinance #Romania #FinancialInclusion #DigitalTransformation #EconomicEmpowerment #MFI

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As the leading Greek Bank in Recovery and Resilience Facility loan disbursements towards small and medium-sized enterprises, we are pleased to announce that we have signed an RRF co-financed loan with LIMEN Single Member SA, aiming at the regeneration of Limni in Evia island. The total investment, amounting to Euro 2.023 million, will finance the company’s plan for the purchase and modernization of an old hotel unit in Limni, which is expected to give commercial impetus to the wider region and contribute significantly to the local economy, that has suffered in recent years from natural disasters. Regarding the loan agreement, Small Business Banking Director, Rentetakos Spyros commented: “This investment is an important shot in the arm for the region of Limni, as it upgrades the tourism product, creates jobs and contributes to the growth of the local economy and the development of the wider region. We stand next to Small and Family Businesses as reliable advisors, contributing to the creation of a fertile environment, where they can grow and be rewarded.” #AlphaBank #Tomorrow #RRF #SMEs #GreeceInvestments #GreekTourism

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📯 We are thrilled to announce the successful disbursement of 8 million EUR from Invest in Visions to Fondi Besa from Albania, facilitated by Agents for Impact. 🌱 Fondi Besa as one of the most important microfinance institutions in the country aims to boost economic growth in urban and semi-urban #Albania by promoting and financing small and medium enterprises. 🌱 The organization emphasizes that #microfinance should be self-sustaining to effectively reach a larger number of individuals in need. Financial #sustainability is crucial for expanding its services to a broad client base, including the unemployed and start-ups, without relying on external subsidies. 💡 A bright illustration of the positive impact of Fondi Besa’s financial assistance can be found in the story of Klejda Hudhri: 🖇️ “I worked for 7 years with my parents in a school supplies store while my husband was abroad. Despite challenges, I wanted to stay in Albania and start my own business to bring him back. Utilizing my experience, I planned to offer not only school supplies but also design services and photocopying. After saving some money, I found a shop that needed repairs. I sought funding from various banks, but it was difficult to secure a loan. Fortunately, I approached Fondi Besa and met a supportive credit officer, Entela, who encouraged my passion for the business. After submitting my documentation, I qualified for a loan, which allowed me to purchase essential equipment and inventory. In just 4 months, my business has performed well thanks to my market knowledge and effective financial support from Fondi BESA. I'm able to repay the loan and aim to expand further into educational toys for children.” 📌 Stay tuned for more impactful news! #impactinvesting #sdgs #esg #esginvesting #sdgs2030 #impact Shreya Shankar Andrii Tiurenkov Dr. Andrij Fetsun Bharat Hari Dhakalia ANKITA KHARADE Kunal Vidhani Gennadiy Bortnikov Nigina B. Jose Rico Coligado Abhinav Soni Dr. Agyeya Trippathi

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QUBE Events is pleased to welcome Panagiotis (Panos) Tournavitis, CEO of Cooperative Bank of Karditsa, as a speaker at the 18th NextGen Payments & RegTech Forum on 10-11 October 2024 at the Marriott Hotel, Athens, Greece. Panagiotis is participating in a panel discussion titled: “How Can Banks Navigate the Modern Financial Services Landscape: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities.” Key Topics Include: » Projecting the long-term evolution of payment methods » Integrating emerging technologies in future payment systems » Adoption of Digital Currencies: The rise of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and their impact on traditional banking. » Increased use of cryptocurrencies for everyday transactions » Personalised financial services and real-time transaction analysis Get ready to engage with Payments and Regtech experts! Book now to secure your spot and enjoy a 10% discount before it expires! Contact us at [email protected] to claim the discount! To register and access the agenda: https://bit.ly/47NmLO4 For more information on registration, please contact [email protected] #qubevents #Greece #Athens #Fintech #NPF #Payments #Regtech #Event2024 #Limassol #Cyprus #CEO #AI #Finance #Sponsor #Europe #Cyprus #DigitalPayments #Conference #Networking #Speakers #Forum #Regulatory #NextGen #AML #JoinUs #Compliance #Trends

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QUBE Events is pleased to welcome Panagiotis (Panos) Tournavitis, CEO of Cooperative Bank of Karditsa, as a speaker at the 18th NextGen Payments & RegTech Forum on 10-11 October 2024 at the Marriott Hotel, Athens, Greece. Panagiotis is participating in a panel discussion titled: “How Can Banks Navigate the Modern Financial Services Landscape: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities.” Key Topics Include: » Projecting the long-term evolution of payment methods » Integrating emerging technologies in future payment systems » Adoption of Digital Currencies: The rise of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and their impact on traditional banking. » Increased use of cryptocurrencies for everyday transactions » Personalised financial services and real-time transaction analysis Get ready to engage with Payments and Regtech experts! Book now to secure your spot and enjoy a 10% discount before it expires! Contact us at [email protected] to claim the discount! To register and access the agenda: https://bit.ly/47NmLO4 For more information on registration, please contact [email protected] #qubevents #Greece #Athens #Fintech #NPF #Payments #Regtech #Event2024 #Limassol #Cyprus #CEO #AI #Finance #Sponsor #Europe #Cyprus #DigitalPayments #Conference #Networking #Speakers #Forum #Regulatory #NextGen #AML #JoinUs #Compliance #Trends

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The April issue of our newsletter for climate accounting and climate markets is on the air. You can download it from our site. #CLIMAmanagement #climatefinance #climatepolicy #euets

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🚀 Empowering Businesses with #AICCGR! Enterprise Greece SA had a very fruitful meeting with The Association of Asset and Inventory Control Companies in Greece (AICCGR) recently and discussed the association's significant contribution to business growth and better management. ✅ By setting clear standards, the AICCGR member-companies help businesses and organizations optimize resource management and day-to-day operations, enhancing their competitiveness in both local and international markets.   Fostering a culture of control and accountability is essential for sustainable business development and success. 🔗 Learn more http://www.sepae.com.gr #EnterpriseGreece #AICCGR #InventoryManagement #BusinessGrowth #OperationalEfficiency #CertifiedExcellence #AssetManagement #BusinessOptimization

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Grant Thornton Greece wraps up a groundbreaking leadership program with N.E.W.S.® Navigation and FRUIT4GROWTH Leadership Development, enhancing skills and resilience for future leaders. Read the Latest full News - https://lnkd.in/dWQ7-hKJ #LeadershipDevelopment #HRTech #GlobalLeadership #OrganizationalGrowth #ProfessionalServices #LeadershipTraining #InnovationInLeadership #FutureLeaders

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'Payment Sector: General Approach, Risks, Future Prospects and the Case of Greece' 📌 Abstract of my Master's Dissertation My Master's dissertation presents, firstly, a general approach to the payment sector and also focuses on the analysis of the payment sector in the Greek market, addressing various factors influencing payment services. Furthermore, the most significant risks faced by the payment sector, such as cyberattacks and online fraud, are identified and methods of mitigating them are described. Through references to future prospects, innovative solutions that are expected to dramatically change the landscape of payment services in the future, such as cryptocurrencies and digital currencies, are examined. Regarding the case of the payment sector in Greece, the current situation indicates an increasing use of electronic payments. Through relevant references to the Greek and European legislative framework, the operation of payment service providers and the types of services they offer is presented. In addition, a brief description of the payment systems utilized is provided, the most significant means of providing payment services are mentioned and a concise overview of the current situation and expected developments in the payment sector in Greece is presented. Finally, this dissertation conducts a comparative analysis of payment transaction data between Greece and the EU as a whole, revealing that card usage is the leading payment method in Greece and the EU, due to its convenience and widespread use in online transactions. Despite a decline in card usage in the EU, possibly attributed to a shift towards electronic money and higher digitalization, Greece shows a robust trend. From 2017 to 2019, all payment services in the EU increased, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused a temporary decline. Subsequent to a slight recovery in 2021, Greece notably maintained an upward trend, particularly evident in 2022. This increase in digital payments highlights the evolving digital economy and shifting consumer behavior, indicating continued growth prospects.

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 The key role of the #CreditUnion model in building a fairer financial services sector was recently discussed by the Senedd Cross-Party Group for Co-operatives and Mutuals. The meeting highlighted the power of co-operative and mutual models as an alternative to traditional financial services, especially for those who are underserved by mainstream institutions. Read more from Cwmpas 👉 https://buff.ly/3Yg6PAI

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Here’s another highlight from our 5-module #training program on #climate risk #management, delivered in #collaboration with Deloitte Consulting and RINA under the EBRD #Corporate Climate #Governance project. In Module 2, participants engaged in #interactive learning sessions, tackling sector-specific climate vulnerabilities and collaborating on practical solutions to enhance #financial resilience. Our experts provided insights on quantifying #physical risk exposure, evaluating the impacts of climate #risks on loan portfolios, and integrating these factors into comprehensive risk #assessments. A big thank you to Bank Al-Maghrib for their partnership and to all participants for their active involvement. Together, we’re making strides toward a #resilient, low-carbon future for #Morocco’s financial #industry. #ClimateRiskManagement #GreenFinance #ClimateGovernance #SustainableFinance #LowCarbonFuture #FinancialResilience #MoroccoFinance #ClimateLeadership #RiskAssessment #Sustainability #CorporateGovernance #FSMENA

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A great opportunity to share the new entries of HDB - Hellenic Development Bank SA's product portfolio, aiding SME financing! Emerging #markets and peripheral regions of #Europe such as #Greece may require different strategies to achieve access to finance. Panelists will discuss about financial products, innovations, #microfinance initiatives and other tools and solutions that can help communities and Small-Medium #Enterprises gain easier access to finance.

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📣Meet the First Experts of Innovation & Digital Transformation Lineup📣 The 2024 Innovation & Digital Transformation Conference is approaching, and we’re thrilled to introduce the first speakers shaping the future of tech and innovation in Greece. Zoe Rapti, Deputy Minister of Development, with open the conference with remarks on building a digitally empowered Greece by 2025. For the first time, insights into the evolving startup ecosystem of 2024 and investment opportunities for 2025 will be revealed through the Startups in Greece 2024-2025 Report and presented by Dimitris Kalavros-Gousiou, Co-Founder of Apeiron Venture Capital & Partner at Found.ation. The Digital Transformation Report 2024-2025 will unveil Greece’s progress in adopting digital solutions across industries. Filippos Zakopoulos, Managing Partner at Found.ation, will present these findings, offering a clear roadmap for the digital journey ahead. Periklis Terlixidis, Operating Officer at NCSR "DEMOKRITOS"​ & Smart Attica European Digital Innovation Hub Manager, will explore how Smart Attica i driving impactful change in local business digital transfromation. 📝 Register now to secure your place at the forefront of Greece’s digital revolution: https://lnkd.in/d5ftySnA   #poweredbyFoundation​ #dtingreece #startupsingreece

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Key highlights from Launch of Publuc Financing in Education report and Policy Dialogue: "Investing in Education: Bridging Financial Gaps and Optimizing Resource Allocation" in collaboration with SAQE The event brought together policymakers, development partners #CSOs, and stakeholders to explore #innovative solutions to enhance #efficiency in #resourceallocated for #education. Discussions revolved around: ✔️ Efficient spending to maximise value for money ✔️ Allocations based on transparent and updated data ✔️ Real-time #monitoring mechanisms for #efficientspending and #accountability ✔️ Re-evaluate inter-provincial and intra-provincial allocation of #educationfinance ✔️ #Inclusion of #community and key stakeholders agenda in education financing Maliha Hyder Baela Jamil Sam Wilson Izza Farrakh Irfan Muzaffar Dr. Shahid Soroya

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