Association of Development Finance Institutions in Malaysia (ADFIM), incorporation with the Association of Development Financing Institutions In Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), Latin American Association of Development Financing Institutions (ALIDE) and the Association of National Development Finance Institutions in Member Countries of the Islamic Development Bank (ADFIMI), is organizing the "International CEO Forum of Development Financing Institutions" with the theme, "Revving SMEs Up as the Engine of Growth" on September 12-13, 2005 at the Regent Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

It is the second year in a row that ADFIM and its co-organizers are holding the event in Kuala Lumpur. The first CEO Forum was held on August 10-12, 2004.

The primary objective of the Forum is to discuss and learn from each participating CEOs on the possible ways to improve the participation of the development financial institutions (DFIs) in assisting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in realizing their potential as engines of growth.

The occasion will also be the venue for the launching of the SME Finance Initiative (SME/FI) to bolster ADFIAP's advocacy for the sector. Essentially, the SME/FI will be a knowledge and business network that will put together development banks and other specialized financial institutions to dialogue and address specific issues of financing SMEs. The SME/FI will have three main elements, i.e., the CEO Forum, the SME/FI Portal and the SME Center. ADFIM is initially working with ADFIAP and the Geneva-based International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) to implement the Initiative through a Memorandum of Understanding.

The event will be graced by Y.B. Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Minister Finance II of the Government of Malaysia.