The Africa Cashless Payment Systems Conference

• Roll out the ideal cashless policies
• Serve as a platform for fintech and e-commerce business owners to learn on the latest and more updated online payment platforms/technologies
• Participants will expand their network by meeting influential top fintech executives.
• Meet leading tech-enabled financial solutions vendors.
• Visit exhibition booths for cutting-edge fintech demos.
• Listen to first hand expert advice and presentations.
• Connect with CEOs for expert advice and business incubation strategies.
• Experience cutting-edge financial products.
• Understand the nuances in the digital economy and crypto market and other digital assets.
• Meet key financial policy development stakeholders.
• Discover the latest innovations and products in the financial system.
• Have a one-on-one audience with cyber security experts.

For many decades, Africa had limited access to traditional financial services such as reliable financial technology, loans, insurance, and credit facilities.

However, the continent has recently begun to witness unprecedented growth in its Financial Technology sector (popularly known as Fintech). This growth may be attributable to the fact that many countries in Africa have been able to showcase their potential for economic growth, causing them to be attractive to foreign investors across the globe.

2021 was a record year for Fintech investment in Africa, and the momentum is only likely to increase. After the brief economic disruptions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the deals came back with massive foreign investment inflow. Available data show that over US $1.6bn were invested across 153 deals, two times the value of 2020 (US $800m) and representing a 50% increase in transaction numbers.

The key investment markets remain Nigeria & Ghana in the West, Kenya in the East, and South Africa in the South. Other countries such as Egypt have also seen some sizeable deals. In Nigeria, the value of deals in the first quarter of 2021 alone outstripped that of 2020. To raise such a quantum of finance from foreign sources is unprecedented in a period when other economies are witnessing very slow recovery from the pandemic.

Africa is the second largest banking market in the world today in terms of growth and profitability, partly because of the rapid adoption of new technology. Although most customers are yet to enroll into the use of tech-enabled banking solutions, such facilities are available in about 80% of African banks while the rest plan to roll them out in the nearest future. Just 12% of African banks regard themselves as ‘digital-first banks’ and another 48% are transitioning towards becoming ‘digital-first banks’. Hence, the landscape of the African banking industry will look very different in the near future.

According to a report from Disrupt Africa, a tech-focused research and news organization based in the region – the African fintech market has been accelerating, with startup companies securing around $330.5 million in the first half of 2021, which is more than double the amount raised in 2020. As internet and mobile usage continues to grow, financial services in several major emerging African markets such as Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt are bypassing traditional banking processes in favor of an efficient tech-enabled solutions such as mobile money.

The last two years have seen a strong inflow of Foreign Direct Investment into the continent. In 2020, approximately $744 million was invested in Fintech in Africa, accounting for 31% of the total inflows into the continent.

In 2021, the interest in African Fintech startups exploded, with Fintech start-ups focused on the continent raising $3.03 billion in disclosed funding rounds. This accounted for a massive 62% of the total investment inflows, according to the latest Africa Investment Report, which was published by research and intelligence firm, Briter Bridges.

Africa is regarded as the world’s second-fastest growing and profitable payments and banking market after Latin America, according to McKinsey study, and this only means that the fintech sector is likely to continue to attract investors tapping into the increasing growth opportunities.

The continent is inching towards becoming a global leader in mobile money adoption, accounting for the bulk of the mobile money transactions made in 2020 – a year that saw the number of mobile money accounts rise by 43%. Mobile money success across the continent is likely due to ease in access brought by advancements in telecommunications technology.

1. How to strengthen the Cashless Financial Systems in Africa;
2. Expand Financial Inclusion And Infrastructure Across Africa;
3. Strengthen And Support The Capacities And Development Of The Financial Institutions In The Continent;
4. Introduce New Technologies And Strengthen Financial Infrastructure Across Africa; Introduce New, Faster And Secured Electronic Payment Systems;
5. Tackling Theft In The Financial Sector;
6. Tackle Digital Financial Insecurity And Data Protection;
7. Chart Ways For Curbing Illicit Financial Flow From Africa;
8. Expose New Marketing And Growth Strategies For Entrepreneurs In A Digitized Economy; Unveil Risks And Opportunities In A Cashless Monetary System;
9. Expose Investment Opportunities In Cashless Financial Infrastructure For Africa;
10. Upgrade African Financial Payment System To Global Standard;
11. Bring More Investment To Africa And Curb Illicit Cash Flow From Africa.
12. Developing A Road Map On The Cashless Economic Future Of The African Continent.

The Conference will have the following session:

• Keynote addresses from respected industry leaders
• Dynamic live roundtables (Q&A)
• Group Discussions
• Lectures & Presentations
• Extensive networking opportunities
• Exhibitions
• FIN Award

This third edition of the Africa Cashless Payment Systems Conference will be the one of the largest fintech conferences and exhibitions with over 1000 participants expected at the event.

It will be a stop shop where financial institutions, investors and consumers can access the latest innovations that will underpin the next phase of financial innovation and transformation. It will provide the needed platform for fintech companies and vendors of financial solutions to interface with consumers and policy makers so as to enhance seamless and secured digital financial transactions across the continent with minimal disruptions.

The conference will bring together the brightest minds from across Africa to discuss Digital Financial Solutions, Cyber Security, e-Commerce, Digital Retail Banking, Payment Systems, Fintech and identity as well as the challenges in the digital market. It will ignite new ideas and inspire the audience to think differently.

Participants will be stimulated by innovators, business leaders and entrepreneurs from across Africa.

The goal is to provide an venue for a productive dialogue among digital financial solutions stakeholders where digital product vendors, consumers, the academia, and regulators will brainstorm on mutual concerns and challenges to efficient product deliverables. It will seek to foster collaboration and debate on key Fintech topics including efficient and fair regulation and financial inclusion.