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Dushanbe, Tajikistan, December 7, 2018
—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, in cooperation with the National Bank of Tajikistan, is hosting a regional forum to help the countries of the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe promote cashless payments for greater financial inclusion, a critical step in achieving inclusive economic growth.
The two-day event, titled
Heading Towards a Cashless Economy: Innovations, Infrastructure, Inclusion,
will bring together over 250 executives from central banks, financial institutions, payment service providers, and technology companies from more than 15 countries. They will discuss trends in the use of electronic payment solutions and explore how those can drive financial inclusion.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan Jamshed Nurmahmadzoda noted: "The introduction of modern digital technologies to the financial sector is happening quickly. Effective e-payment systems are a key part of a stable and responsive banking system and of the country's economy."
Cassandra Colbert, IFC Regional Manager for Central Asia, said: “The global financial system is poised for unprecedented innovation. But technological progress alone cannot fuel financial inclusion. Moreover, it cannot be achieved through the effort of one party alone. To sustain the efforts of the growing private sector and to extend the reach to the wider population, it takes efforts from multiple players. It is therefore up to us in how we drive the next step forward.”
Supporting responsible and inclusive digital financial services is an important part
of IFC’s strategy in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. IFC has worked to help businesses and individuals harness the benefits of digital financial services, focusing on areas like payments, lending and other financial services.
The conference is being organized by IFC’s Electronic and Digital Financial Services Project implemented in Azerbaijan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan. The project, funded by the UK’s Department for International Development and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland, is a part of the joint IFC-World Bank Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation Global Practice.
About SECO
SECO is Switzerland’s competence center for all core issues relating to economic policy. SECO’s economic development cooperation strives to achieve inclusive sustainable growth and poverty reduction. Its activities aim to create more and better jobs, to enhance trade and competitiveness, to support effective institutions and services and to foster climate resilient economies. For more information, visit
www.seco-cooperation.ch
About DFID
The Department for International Development (DFID) leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty. We are tackling the global challenges of our time including poverty and disease, mass migration, insecurity and conflict. Our work is building a safer, healthier, more prosperous world for people in developing countries and in the UK too.
For more information, visit
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development
About the World Bank Group
The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It comprises five closely associated institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Each institution plays a distinct role in the mission to fight poverty and improve living standards for people in the developing world. For more information, please visit
www.worldbank.org
,
www.miga.org
, and
www.ifc.org
.
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