Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI) Acting Executive Director, Mr Peter Samuel, highlighted Papua New Guinea’s experience in building a dedicated national financial inclusion institution during the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Global Policy Forum in Port Moresby.
Papua New Guinea is the only country in the AFI network with an independent institution mandated to drive financial inclusion outside the central bank. This unique arrangement provided CEFI with the opportunity to share their experience with other AFI members
Mr Samuel delivered his presentation at the Sheraton Hotel, Port Moresby, on Wednesday, 2 September, before an international audience comprising overseas delegates representing central banks and financial sector institutions from around the world.
Titled “CEFI: Mandate, Journey and Impact of Papua New Guinea’s Dedicated Financial Inclusion Body”, the presentation was delivered under the theme “Future-Proofing Financial Inclusion.”
Mr Samuel outlined CEFI’s journey from its establishment in 2013, explaining that the Government recognised financial inclusion as a national development priority.
“It is a national agenda and not a central bank agenda,” Mr Samuel told delegates, explaining the rationale behind the National Executive Council’s endorsement of CEFI as the institution responsible for coordinating financial inclusion activities nationwide.
He said establishing an independent institution provided greater focus, resources and flexibility while maintaining strong links with the Bank of Papua New Guinea.
“Having a separate dedicated institution enables focus… financial inclusion is given that focus and attention and resources,” he said.
Mr Samuel also highlighted CEFI’s ability to build partnerships across government, the private sector, regulated financial institutions and communities, while maintaining continuity in implementing Papua New Guinea’s three National Financial Inclusion Strategies.
CEFI’s presentation showed that by the first quarter of 2026, Papua New Guinea had 19,566 financial access points, more than 4.9 million deposit accounts and 244,732 people trained in financial literacy.
Concluding his presentation, Mr Samuel emphasised the importance of giving a dedicated institution the authority, resources and capability to sustain financial inclusion.
“Giving one body a national mandate to drive [the] financial inclusion agenda” was among the key lessons from Papua New Guinea’s experience, he said.
Ends.
CEFI was established under the Association Incorporation Act and officially launched on the 24th of April 2013. CEFI was endorsed by PNG’s National Executive Council (NEC) as the industry apex organization for coordinating, advocating and monitoring all financial inclusion activities in PNG.
CEFI’s vision, mission and values focus on financial inclusion and literacy, poverty elimination and the promotion of vibrant financial institutional operation in Papua New Guinea.
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Media Contact:
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Email: lomaro@thecefi.org
