On 13 and 14 September, the Joaquim Chissano Conference Centre in Maputo hosted a seminal meeting that could shape the future of the banking, financial and insurance system not only in Mozambique, but across the African continent. The event, themed around innovation and financial inclusion, brought together experts in Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) in Mozambique, providing a prime occasion to discuss strategies for modernising and harmonising payment procedures and systems.
This meeting had a striking aspiration: to drive the creation of a unified digital market in the region, promoting an inclusive and sustainable financial system that can meet the needs of an African population of 1.4 billion, 57% of whom still do not hold a bank account.
Kekobad Patel, a prominent figure on the organising committee, stressed that the conference addressed highly relevant topics such as the integration of fintechs into the market, innovations in the insurance sector, and questions of regulation and banking penetration. The agenda set out to stimulate productive debates with the participation of executives, experts and government representatives at national and international level.
Mozambique positioned itself as a hub for fundamental discussions on digital transformation in the BFSI sector. With high expectations, participants sought to begin an enriching dialogue and define concrete measures to move towards a financial services sector that is more modern and accessible to all. The conference aimed to become a landmark both nationally and continentally, stimulating meaningful discussions on how financial institutions are adapting to and adopting technological solutions to meet the needs of the population, foster economic growth and promote financial inclusion. Technology, with its potential to transcend borders and create opportunities, was at the centre of attention during this meeting.
