on, FinTech players are positively impacting the digital transforma initiatives to meet the financial needs of under‐served markets across the con

at the Radisson Blu Addis Ababa, where more than 200 international FinTech experts together with African pioneers, investors, entrepreneurs and leading bankers, gatheredto harness the FinTech revolution to boost strategic economic priorities such as financial inclusion and deepening – and how FinTech can make a positive and profitable difference in Africa. The event also explored h ons are being shaped and accelerated as a result of the gathering momentum of FinTech disruptors. FinTech players are increasingly becoming an important part of the fabric of Africa’s financial services ecosystem and the leading banks on the con AcrossAfricahuge game‐changing leaps are currently taking place which are transforming economies on the con The unique environment for financial services in Africa is fertile ground for innovative FinTech players who are capitalizing on the opportunities to disrupt or leapfrog established business models to make financial services more affordable, accessible and profitable across the continent. Finnovation Ethiopia 2019 welcomed a stellar line-up of Keynote Speakers, including Dr Bilel Jamoussi , Chief of Study Groups Department, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau of International Telecommunication Union (ITU); Declan Magero , Founding Partner of Afrinet Capital; Mountaga  Diop , Founder & CEO of Belcash; Andrew Takyi-Appiah , Managing Director of Zeepay Ghana Limited. This high-profile opening Keynote Sessiondefined directions on Aligning the Role of Government Policymakers, Incumbent Banks, FinTech Innovators, Investors, Multilateral Agencies, MNOs and the Private Sector to Create a Dynamic Ecosystem for FinTech in Africa. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Yemiru Chanyalew, CEO of Moneta Tecnologies, SC , said that: “ Finnovation is a DigitalTransformation of Banking - Driving Constructive Economic Outcomes from the FinTechEcosystem in Africa. Finnovation Ethiopia 2019 has brought various Fintech companiesto a very different kind of event, a complete reboot, for a very different kind ofindustry - technology companies enabling the financial sector for digital paymentsThis FinTech Era has brought 24/7 access of financial services to consumers. This was earlierlimited to just the banking hours. There are a number of services that have branched outin the finance industry with the advent of technology. Mobile banking and digital walletsare at the top of the list. In Ethiopia, the focus is largely on facilitating merchant paymentsbecause the economy has wide capacity gaps across the various sectors. MonetaTechnologies, launched “Amole” based on its digital omni-channel payment platform. Byintroducing Amole, we are enabling a sustainable e-commerce to other service providersto integrate with Amole platform for digital payments. Amole’s digital payment platformenables merchants and the bank’s agents with mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) to provide aggregated digital products and services (Digital Content) where our customers do theirday-to-day shopping. This enables consumers to conveniently pay for their purchases,utility bill payments, person-to-person (P2P) transfers, electronic mobile top-up, Cash-inand Cash-out, among many other services using Amole or cash ”.

Further emphasizing this exciting opportunity, Kidist Zegeye, CEO , MOSS ICT Consultancy , shared some persuasive insights while speaking on the sidelines of the Finnovation Ethiopia 2019 event: “ Over 1.3 million customersnationwide use M-BIRR to conduct financial transactions from the convenienceof their mobile phone. They are supported by a network of over 8,000 microfinanceinstitution branches and agents across Ethiopia. The M-BIRR serviceallows people to use mobile phones to send money, to pup, buy goods, pay bills,and more. Ethiopian Airlines, Total, and cable TV provider DSTV are among themerchants that partner with M-BIRR. MOSS ICT is proud to provide the technologyfor M-BIRR to 6 leading financial institutions in Ethiopia. The leading banks on thecontinent are harnessing innovative technology and collaborating with FinTechs like MOSS to better connect with under-served consumers, improve financialinclusion and provide a platform to scale much faster. Finnovation Ethiopia2019 will once again bring together the payments, fintech, retail & ecommerceinnovators from across the continent to explore the newest trends and showcasethe most cutting-edge innovations within the industry .”

Another major highlight of Finnovation Ethiopia 2019 was the Leader’s Dialogue Live!session which presented a unique opportunity to gain a fresh perspective and first-hand insights in conversation with a FinTech Pioneer. The live interview session featured renowned industry leader , who stressed the innovative potential of financial technology in Africa: .”This high-profile session was moderated by well-known media personality, Colin Don Schouw , Managing Director of the Fixer Group in South Africa. In-depth sessions continued throughout the day featuring bankers and FinTech pioneers deliberating on key issues such as Blockchain – from Hype to Reality in Africa; innovations in the African payments landscape; Finclusion;mobile money & retail. High-profile speakers included Tafesework Negussie ,Manager Mobile Money service of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia; Bizuneh Bekele , ePayment and FinTech Development Consultant at Digi Finance Africa; Felix Mulei , Director, Business Development at Eclectics International; and Jane Zhang , Founder & CEO of Shellpay.

The post-lunch sessions at Finnovation Ethiopia 2019 were focused on identifying and engaging exciting new African FinTech entrepreneurs. The Tale of FinTech Pioneers in Sheba Valley showcased the exciting innovations currently happening in Ethiopia, including trail-blazers such as ICEADDIS, Gebeya, AmoleCoin, and featured insights from Zekarias Amsalu, the Founder & MD of IBEX Financial Consultancy Ltd. The day concluded with the much-anticipated Wolves’ Den session, which again lived up to its billing as a powerful and ruthless session that enabled innovative FinTech start-ups and trail-blazers to real-time test the positive impact of their solutions with a panel representing savvyInvestors/Venture Capitalists and seasoned African Fintech Pioneers.FinTech trail-blazers AXIOM Financial Technologies, Yeha Rooms, Motivation Hub& ethio.meall made their respective pitcheswhile the “ Wolves" asked the tough questions and provided the illuminating insights during a dynamic closing session to the event.

2 ^nd Edition of Finnovation Ethiopia 2019 is part of the FinTech Africa Series which regularly gathersleading stakeholders and influencers in the African FinTech ecosystem, from start-ups to banking powerhouses, from the key markets across Africa and internationally.

For further details, please contact:

Sanay Lalwani , Vice President: Marketing & Mediaat Finnovation World:

sanaylalwani@finnovationworld.com