PayExpo MENA 2016
According to leading industry research,electronic-payment transactions in the MENA region will register $69 billion by2020, making it one of the fastest growing and most competitive markets forsmart payments technology.
In light of this, more than 1,000 seniordecision makers from banks, retailers, leisure, transport, public sectororganisations, gaming, telecoms and solutions suppliers will gather for PayExpoMENA at the Intercontinental Festival City Dubai on 5-7 December 2016 todiscover the latest ideas, trends and developments in the payments industry.
The event will set the 2017 global agenda forpayments and highlight innovations in the region. Conference topics willinclude payments for empowerment, the latest onthe relationship between blockchain and banking, the global FinTech scene,cashless payments, the future of payments and security, authentication andbiometrics.
Highlightsamong these, the sessions on enhancingand encouraging the global FinTech and ecommerce scene will give delegatesthe opportunity to learn about the mistakesto avoid in providing a platform to support development in the growing world ofecommerce.
As threats areincreasing, the security, authenticationand biometrics stream will advise on avoiding fraud and ensuring systemsare secure through the use of biometrics and maintaining security levels on allPOS devices whether that be online, mobile or in-store.
With financialservices changing at different rates around the world, the revolutionizing mobile financial services and banking around the world strandwill spotlight regional developments. For example, the Banco Central delEcuador will reveal their path to full financial inclusion, while the Pan-Africanpanel debate will discuss how traditional financial institutions are servingthe needs of the banked, un-banked and under-banked.
Notable speakerssharing their expertise from across the globe include David Birman of the Bankof Georgia, who will highlight regional strategy to digitally mobilise theunbanked population in a fast urbanising market as part of the payments for empowerment agenda.
With Iraniansanctions being lifted and thus exposure to international markets, UsmanQureshi from Bank Pasargad, will explore the role of established banks inpayments innovation through his speaker session Building or Blocked: Are traditional banks going to help or hinder thesector? Also forming part of the Blockchainand banking programme, Jon Matonis from the Bitcoin Foundation, willexamine digital currency, a particularly controversial topic in the MiddleEast, via his discussion IsCryptocurrency the key to a cashless future and will it be the dominant paymentchannel for Generation Y?
Other speakers set to sharetheir expertise from across the globe include representatives from banks basedin Oman, Kenya, Tanzania, Mexico, Turkey and Nigeria, while expertpractitioners from organisations including Uber, Blackberry, Accenture, LEGOand the Russian Electronic Money Federation will deliver invaluable knowledgeand experience.
Sammy Tuffaha, of event partner Etisalat, commented:
“These are exciting times forthe payment industry. The next ten years will reinvent the way we live by changing the way wepay for things. As we experience the latest innovations that are settingthe tone for 2017 payments evolution in the MENA region, we must appreciate thevision and efforts that we see in the area. For example, UAE’s goal to become a predominantly cashless societyand the increasing penetration of touch-less payments are some of the manybenchmarks that need to be reinforced and supported. However, such initiativeswill require serious coordination among all industry players and relativeentities. Specialized events like PayExpo will help bridge the gap between thevarious initiatives in the region and instigate the needed synchronization formass adaptation.’’
The industry must strive towards digital paymentsenablement via the implementation of FinTech solutions and in conjunction ofadvanced technology concepts like blockchain and biometrics. This will rapidlylead to cultural transformation of cashless payments and simpler consumerjourney across all aspects of the daily life”.
Michael Seaman, event director of PayExpoMENA, said:
“This world class conference will unite thepayments industry under one roof for two packed days of valuable insights andexperiences.”
A full two-day conference pass is$999+ VAT for those who book before 4 November and $1,299+VAT for those thatbook on or after 5 November. Full details are available at: paymentsworldseries.circdata-solutions.co.uk/RFG/publish/PEXM2016/
Complimentary passes are available forthose involved with specifying payments solutions at: Retail Banks; Investors and Venture Capitalists,Merchants; Mobile Network Operators, Gaming Executives, Transport Operators,Hotel and Leisure Executives, Start-ups and Non-Government Authorities.
Registrationis now open at: www.payexpo.com/mena/welcome
ENDS
Forfurther information, please contact:
JordanRoozpeikar or Emma Ward, PayExpo MENA Press Office
T: (UK) + 44 20 7736 4022
E: jordanroozpeikar@clareville.co.uk ; emmaward@clareville.co.uk