Fostering financial inclusion through payments in the Middle East and Africa

OMFIF’s Digital Monetary Institute in partnership with Mastercard Policy Center for the Digital Economy, continues the high-level public-private sector dialogue in line with the World Economic Forum’s report on ‘Shared Principles for an Inclusive Financial System’ and building on the joint report on the evolution of national and international payments, to explore where central bank priorities, opportunities and challenges lie for an inclusive financial system.

Positioning the Middle East and Africa region as a strong digital hub of financial inclusion and innovation requires an inclusive marketplace where policy-makers have strong ambitions to support the adoption of cashless transactions. Steps must be taken to have a positive impact on the welfare of citizens through efficient, innovative, safe and secure digital infrastructure. The panel will discuss the importance of deepening trust in financial services through technology, the steps needed to ensure an integrated system and market-driven interoperability and the measures in place to balance cost and sustainability within a national payments system infrastructure.