November 2022 ends with more exciting news for the German Sparkassenstiftung. Dr. Ilonka Rühle-Stern, Head of Division Asia, finished her visit to Vietnam and Laos with fruitful success.

During the visit in Vietnam, Dr. Ilonka Rühle-Stern, Mr. Klaus Remmer together with our colleagues in Vietnam office, have reviewed our project activities with our partners. Our long-term partner Tinh Thuong Microfinance (TYM) as well as Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) showed their deepest appreciation for the partnership and DSIK support. Along with that, we had a fruitful exchange with the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and then our universities partners (VNU-UEB: University of Economics and Business, VWA: Vietnam Women Academy, VBA: Banking Academy of Vietnam and BUH: Banking University of Ho Chi Minh). It is an occasion to sit-down with our valuable partners and summed up implemented activities, as well as to show appreciation and cheer for the partnership.

After that, Dr. Ilonka Rühle-Stern, Mr. Klaus Remmer together with Mr. Christian Grajek – Regional Coordinator Southeast Asia and Mr. Enno Söllner continued the journey to Lao PDR. On the occasion of the visit of Dr. Ilonka Rühle-Stern (DSIK) as Project Lead for the Sparkassen Partnership Project to strengthen the regional Microfinance Network, several working meetings were held with project partners in Laos.

During the official reception with Lao Women´s Union (LWU), Dr. Inlavanh Keobounphanh - the President of LWU solemnly granted the Deutsche Sparkassenstiftung für International Kooperation (DSIK) the Level-3 Award for supporting the Lao Government in promoting and supporting socio-economic development in rural areas.

Furthermore, both organizations reiterated their bilateral cooperation and the need to accelerate and deepen activities in the future during the discussions held in Vientiane.