Dear members and friends,

I am greatly pleased to convey my sincerest greetings and best wishes for the New Year to all ABA members and friends.

The year 2019  promises to be another exciting period not only for me as I take on my new role as ABA Chairman for the next two years, but also for the the Association as we gear up for an even more active role in the Asia Pacific region and globally as well. Our recent 35th  ABA General Meeting and Conference in Maldives underscored the many formidable challenges, as well as opportunities, for the banking community in the year ahead. It is my ardent hope that, as we usher in the New Year, we will have the ability to manage business with care and caution, and to plan well in our work and finances.

I am confident that the ABA, with the varied expertise and resources of its members, will remain in an ideal position to serve as a dominant voice of the banking sector in regional affairs. I believe that our Association’s strength comes from its diversity. By sharing our diverse ideas, our diverse experiences, and our diverse background, we should be able to develop new and effective strategies to achieve regional growth and cooperation, thereby making ABA a truly regional organization.

I therefore look forward to seeing all of you again during the 36th ABA General Meeting and Conference later this year, for another opportunity to dialogue with one another on how best we can help our region achieve an even more rapid and sustainable growth.

I wish you the best of health, prosperity and happiness in the New Year!

Jonathan Alles
ABA Chairman