Addis to host Fintech summit

Fintech is to hold its annual summit in Addis Ababa in November 2019.
The 4th edition of the Africa Fintech Summit (AFTS), the premier global initiative dedicated to financial technology in Africa, will be held in Addis in the presence of representatives with over 4.5 billion USD private equity and venture capital funding and leading innovators, investors, and policy makers from around the world.
The AFTS Advisory Board unanimously chose Addis Ababa as the 2019 host city in recognition of its rapidly growing economy, extensive infrastructure investments across the last two decades, and ambitious reform agenda that includes partial privatization of the national telecom monopoly and ongoing liberalization of the financial sector.
“I am thrilled that this great event is coming to Addis Ababa,” said Getahun Mekuria Minister of Innovation and Technology.
“I am very much pleased to welcome Africa Fintech Summit delegates to the continent’s political capital and a nexus of global events, Addis Ababa.”
The AFTS is organized by Dedalus Global, an investment and communications advisory focusing on emerging markets and emerging technologies, and by Ibex Frontier, an investment consultancy and route-to-Ethiopian-market advisory.
“We are extremely proud to bring AFTS to Ethiopia, the 2nd most populous nation in Africa that is at the inflicting point of digitalization, as e-commerce and financial inclusion are of prime focus both by the Government and the tech sector. We look forward to welcoming global investors and Fintech eco-system players with warm Ethiopian hospitality,” said Zekarias Amsalu, Founder & MD of Ibex Frontier.
The AFTS Addis Ababa will focus on the future of banking, mobile money growth and integration, policy and regulation, blockchain, digital identity, remittances, and financial inclusion.
Strategic partners for the Summit include the Corporate Council on Africa, the US State Department, the US-Nigeria Council, the Congo Business Network, and PeaceTech Lab.
The bi-annual summit occurs each April in Washington, D.C., and each November in a different African city.