The Global Forum on Remittances 2013 is the fourth in a series of groundbreaking fora dedicated to highlighting the importance of international migration and the vital flow of remittances that results. The conference is part of a series of events devoted to the creation of worldwide synergies among government, civil society and private sector stakeholders who are key to maximizing the development impact of migration. The importance of this process is further highlighted by the Group of Eight's - followed by the G20 - explicit call on reducing the cost of remittances by 50 per cent over the next five years.

During this time of economic instability, the relative resilience of remittances as an international flow is a stabilizing force for many nations. At the same time, the ability of migrant workers to surmount the economic challenges they face is a testament to their dedication to send money home.

With global attention in the field of remittances shifting towards the Asia-Pacific region, the Global Forum on Remittances 2013 will focus on the tremendous potential of the Asian remittance market, as well as the role of regulatory frameworks and the private sector in maximizing micro, local and national impacts of remittances. The conference is a follow-up to the fora held in 2005, 2007 and 2009, each of which was attended by more than 500 individuals. A Remittances, Business Models and Technology Fair will run in parallel with the Forum and will provide private-sector entities and other stakeholders with an opportunity to exhibit their products and services, network and share knowledge and good practices. The Fair will indeed serve as a venue for interaction with other key remittance market players from public and private sectors, and civil society. More than 500 participants from the region and experts from around the world attended.

Specific objectives of the GFR2013 will be to:

• highlighting the importance of international and domestic remittances of the region;
• exchanging worldwide lessons learned and best practices and promoting the scaling-up of successful models;
• promoting private sector involvement as agents of innovation; and
• supporting national governments in fostering enabling environments that promote low-cost remittances and that maximize the impact of these funds in terms of access to finance and creation of wealth.
  

The outcome of the Forum discussions will introduce specific recommendations and form the basis for the continuous dialogue that will influence the remittances market during the years to come.