The Retirement Fund Institute of Namibia (RFIN) says it is committed to making the sector more resilient and sustainable to continue serving and securing a financial future for its members.
This comes as the Institute is hosting its 16th Annual RFIN conference on 21 September to address challenges and improve the industry.
“The RFIN conference seeks to ensure that retirement funds remain relevant, are resilient to the storms of life and have the resources to ensure members enjoy the best outcomes at retirement or on prior death or disability,” said RFIN Vice Chairperson Sabrina Jacobs.
“In a world and industry marked by rapid changes, unprecedented challenges, and remarkable advancements, it is essential that we come together to explore strategies that ensure our collective future remains relevant, resilient, and well-resourced,” she added.
Jacobs reiterated that the RFIN Conference has consistently served as a platform for the exchange of ideas and forging of lasting partnerships, hence she is confident that this year’s gathering will be no exception.
“This year’s conference holds a special significance as we delve into a theme that resonates deeply with the challenges and opportunities of our time –Towards a Relevant, Resilient and Resourced Future – Putting the ‘R’ Back into Savings,” she said.
So far delegates from Namibia, Botswana and South Africa have registered. In the same vein, the Institute is pleading for more support and stakeholders to come on board.
Among the lined-up speakers will be NamRA’s Commissioner Sam Shivute, NAMFISA’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer: Prudential Supervision Erna Motinga and Leevi Jordan Tshoopara, the Manager for Listed Investments at GIPF, as well as John Oliphant, the Executive Chairman at Third Way Asset Management Group, among other speakers.
According to Jacobs, the conference will ponder on discussions such as the Harvesting Investment Opportunities in Africa, while local and international speakers will provide a Continental and Namibian perspectives, including a case study on incubating local talent to enter the Investment market as active participants.
Conveners will further look at how best to address the social aspect of Environmental, Social and Governance, with the view of investing within the parameters of the current Reg 13 of the PFA. Reg 13 prescribes the types of investments retirement funds are allowed to hold.
“We shall further discuss legislating in a vacuum, which will entail aligning Regulatory Goals that speak to how retirement funds are regulated under various laws; and will look at areas of overlap and possible gaps caused by a silo approach by the regulators,” the vice chairperson stated.
Another pivotal engagement will be on regulating Financial Technology (Fintech), seeking to promote digital innovation to drive financial inclusion within the business sector, as well as to ensure the efficiency and sustainability in delivering the NAMFISA mandate.
“In this regard, our first panel discussion will see local and international experts, as well as Fund members at both ends of the spectrum sharing ideas on how to Foster a Savings Culture and Break Generational Poverty. While the next engagement will be on Optimising Fund Objectives in a digital age, which focuses on examining and harnessing digital technologies in service of our members,” said Jacob.
