Dubbed as the “Davos of Fintech”, the Region’s
top Fintech conference, held under the patronage of the Central Bank of Bahrain
and hosted by Bank ABC, returns on a virtual platform to focus on Banking
Beyond Digital.
Manama, Bahrain – Despite the pandemic, which led to
the cancellation of many major events around the world, MENA’s leading
international bank, Bank ABC, under the esteemed patronage of the Central Bank
of Bahrain, is ready to return with the fourth edition of its annual MEA
Fintech Forum, to discuss some of the most relevant subjects that concern
financial services today in our region.
Themed “Banking
Beyond Digital” the Forum will be held on an interactive, state-of-the-art
virtual event platform on 24 - 25 November 2020. The two-day agenda will
include engaging discussions on some of the most pressing subjects of our times
including post-pandemic recovery, low-touch economy, Bank of the future,
cashless payments and sustainability.
Commenting on the event, HE
Rasheed Al Maraj, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain said: “The Central Bank
of Bahrain is committed to creating a market environment conducive for
innovation, collaboration and sustained economic growth. We are pleased to continue
our support to Bank ABC’s initiative of the MEA Fintech Forum, which has
significantly advanced Bahrain’s FinTech agenda and encouraged the business and
financial services community to look at their operations differently. We look
forward to another engaging and successful conference this year.”
Mr. Sael
Al Waary, Deputy Group CEO, Bank ABC said: "2020
has been an exceptionally challenging year and has further accelerated the
critical role digital will play in financial services as we move ahead. We’re
excited to host this Forum, once again bringing together leading thinkers,
technologists and those who are shaping tomorrow’s financial services industry to
discuss pertinent subjects such as economic recovery, regulation in the digital
age, cyber security and the e-commerce ecosystem."
As the fight against the Pandemic continues and the world economy shifts
gears from “respond” to “recover,” the Forum aims to explore how disruptive technologies
such as artificial intelligence can be harnessed to enhance operational
efficiency and meet the ever-changing needs and expectations of the customer.
“We firmly believe that change should not be feared but embraced, and
digital innovation and disruption is here to facilitate a fundamental shift in
the industry and improve people’s lives. Through this interactive event, we facilitate
collaborative discussion between world-leading industry experts, regulators and
regional financial services providers to explore the potential of FinTech, and
address economic growth, sustainability and financial inclusion,” Mr. Al Waary
added.
The MEA Fintech Forum underlines Bank ABC’s commitment to Bahrain
and the region and supports Bahrain’s vision to become a leading FinTech hub.
More regional banks, financial institutions, big tech and leading consultancy’s
are expected to take part in the Forum this year. Bank ABC Group including the digital,
mobile-only bank, ila and digital payments provider AFS, are engaged in the
development of new FinTech-led financial services and global ecosystems.
Bank ABC is a leading player in the MENA region’s
banking industry and provides global innovative Wholesale Banking coverage and
products that include Corporate and Financial Institutions coverage,
Transaction Banking (Trade Finance and Cash Management), Project and Structured
finance, Syndications, Treasury and Financial Markets products and Islamic
Banking. It also provides retail banking services through its network of retail
banks in Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria and in Bahrain through the digital
mobile-only bank ila.
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HE Rasheed Al Maraj
Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain |
Mr. Sael Al Waary
Deputy Group CEO of Bank ABC |