Untitled - Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants

F R O M T H E W O R L D O F A C C O U N T A N C Y
CAPA Strategy Planning Session Confirms CAPA’s Commitment to
Accountancy Development in the Asia-Pacific Region
The CAPA Board met in Manila on 28-29 September to consider
the strategic directions for the Confederation.
The Strategy Planning Session was sponsored and hosted by
the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at its headquarters. 36
representatives from 11 countries participated, coming as far from
New Zealand, India and Japan. The ADB engaged John Petty,
National Vice President of CPA Australia as the facilitator of the
strategy planning session.
The meeting confirmed CAPA’s commitment to both representing
members in the development of global standards as well as to assist
in the development of accounting professional bodies in the region.
This incorporates the development of education, accounting and
business services for small and medium sized enterprises (SME).
CAPA acknowledge there are vast differences in the sizes and
needs of SMEs in the region. As most of the SME in the region
consist of micro-SME companies, CAPA plans to embark on
a guidance project to address the applicability of standards for
micro-SME needs.
Unfortunately on the first day of the meeting, typhoon “Milenyo”
(international name: Xangsane) brought Metro Manila to a
near-standstill with all flights canceled. It was reported to be the
strongest typhoon to hit Metro Manila directly in 11 years. The
ADB headquarters were closed and we had to make last-minute
arrangements to shift the meeting venue to the Discovery Suite
hotel, where most of the delegates were staying. The second day
of the session was held in ADB headquarters, as planned.
However despite disruption of travel plans and some of the meeting
being held in the dark, all agenda items were fully addressed.
The purpose of the strategy planning session to develop a forward
strategy for CAPA and to engage leaders of the profession in
providing input to CAPA’s strategic thinking over the short
and medium period. In the session, key future challenges,
CAPA strategic positioning issues and SWOT action plans were
addressed.
Arising out of the strategy planning session, the participants came
up with 13 Strategic Projects Action Plans. These plans cover a
wide range of projects covering Developing Nations Capacity
Building, Reinforcing CAPA’s International and Regional
Relationships, CAPA as the “Voice of the Region” to Facilitating
Accounting Profession Development in Emerging Markets. All
these projects will be brought up to the CAPA Board meeting in
Istanbul on November 11, 2006 for further consideration.
During the strategy planning session, CAPA President, Shozo
Yamazaki had a meeting with the ADB President, Haruhiko
Kuroda. The CAPA leaders also met with Vice President
Greenwood, Operational Vice President responsible for Southeast
Asia, East and Central Asia and South Pacific and also Vice
President Jin who is responsible for Central and West Asia and
South Asia operations. These meetings enabled CAPA to share
its mission and achievements with the ADB.
The ADB also hosted the various sub-committee meetings of
CAPA which was held the next day, following the CAPA Strategy
Planning Session.
The CAPA leaders also took the opportunity to make a friendly
visit to the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants
(PICPA) office. At the PICPA office, they were welcomed with
warm Filipino hospitality and enjoyed the discussions with Manuel
Pascual, PICPA President and PICPA fellow Council members.
Among the PICPA Council members were Carlos R. Alindada,
CAPA Past President, Pio Baconga, PICPA Vice President and
David Balangue, former PICPA Representative on the CAPA
Board.