Fintech Forward 2024 concludes in Bahrain
Fintech Forward 2024 (FF24) has concluded its second successful edition at Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB), attracting an impressive 1,700 participants over two days. Notably, one-third of the attendees traveled from across the Gulf region and beyond to be part of this premier fintech event.
Organised by Economist Impact and hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), FF24 received support from the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), Tamkeen, and Bahrain Fintech Bay (BFB). The event aimed to challenge conventional thinking by offering innovative insights into significant issues affecting the financial sector.
Discussions centered around how macroeconomic trends and technological advancements are transforming the global financial landscape, creating new opportunities for networking among regional and international business leaders. The event has once again positioned Bahrain as a pivotal hub for fintech innovation and collaboration in the region.
A riveting one-on-one fireside chat with Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa kicked off the opening day, where the minister provided strategic insight on the impact of global macroeconomic trends on the fintech industry, which is experiencing a new paradigm of growth. Day one additionally included an insightful session featuring Sustainable Development Minister and EDB chief executive Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, alongside Binance chief executive Richard Teng, which delved into how countries and businesses are developing the next generation of tech talent amid fierce competition and an ever-changing global landscape.
Across both days, the curated sessions held as part of The Transformation Agenda series brought together industry game changers and thought leaders, where speakers included Amy Oldenburg (Morgan Stanley Investment Management), Rishabh Bhandari (Wells Fargo), Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs (UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network), Godfrey Sullivan (Visa CEMEA), Alex Lola (ATME), Bryan Stirewalt (MENA, EY), Yousif Almas (Bank ABC), NBB board member Alaa Saeed (ARRAY Innovation), among others.
During the event, a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, including one between crypto.com and Benifit and additionally between SC Ventures by Standard Chartered and BFB to support the expansion of ventures into Bahrain. In partnership with ARP Digital the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) announced the launch of GCC’s first Bitcoin-Linked Structured Investment. Additionally, on the sidelines of FF24, BFB’s Bahrain Fintech Ecosystem Report 2024 was released.
Providing a deep analytical perspective on current and anticipated trends in the likes of changing consumer behaviour, Generative AI, the future digital payments sector, and blockchain, the sessions were moderated by Joshua Roberts, Capital Markets Editor at The Economist, Jan Piotrowski, Schumpeter Columnist at The Economist, as well as Laveena Iyer, a global analyst of technology and telecoms at Economist Intelligence Unit.
Owing to its forward-thinking fintech regulatory framework and future-ready workforce, Bahrain has cemented itself as a regional hub for up-and-coming technologies in fintech, open banking, cryptocurrencies, and AI advancements. Global investors are choosing Bahrain to deliver global impact delivered by bilingual, highly skilled local talent, that lie at the foundation of a diversified international workforce.