The eighth annual Asian Banker Summit was officially opened on Monday in Jakarta, participated by banking leaders from Asia, Europe, the United States and Australia.

Over 500 banking professionals from more than 24 countries exchange ideas on regional and global issues at the three-day summit, said the Indonesian Bank's Association chairman Sigit Pramono.

On Sunday, the bankers already discussed the models and strategies for commercial banks in micro banking and strategies for improving profitability from microfinance initiatives, said Sigit. It also looked at identifying markets and developing products for micro banking, and challenges in taking it to the next level of maturity, he said.

"At this summit senior banking officials exchange ideas on regional and global issues," said Pramono.

"The Asian Banker Summit will bring together several key leaders in the financial services industry who will convene to debate and examine transformational issues during dozens of seminal discussion at the summit," said Fiona Shaw, director of forums at The Asian Banker.

"Also featured will be about 60 prominent figures that have played pivotal roles in changing the world of banking," added Shaw.

The governor of Bank of Indonesia Burhanudddin Abdullah opened the summit.

(Source: Xinhua English)