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Bankers share tech insight

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 18 Jan 2008

Aitec Africa will host a banking technology conference from 15 to 22 February, in Nairobi, Kenya.

The African Banking Technology Conference aims to provide a platform for the sharing of knowledge and best practices in banking across Africa, the organisation says.

The effective application of IT and telecommunication solutions is essential for developing a profitable balance between these two sides of the banking market, says Aitec Africa chairman Sean Moroney.

"World-class systems have to be carefully examined and assessed for their appropriateness to extend services to mass, low-income, mostly rural customers," he says.

Workshops and master classes

The conference will provide the region's banking community with in-depth briefings from African and international experts that will enable them to assess latest banking technology systems and strategies to achieve an effective and profitable balance, he says.

According to the programme, master classes will cover subjects such as "Maximising the risk of acquiring banking technology" and "The three legs of an anti-fraud strategy".

Gomos Consulting Group researcher and consultant Simon Batchelor is expected to present a workshop on "Mobile phone-enabled payment systems". Batchelor recently completed a study on mobile projects in Africa.

Participants in the conference will include company executives, ICT managers and professionals in the banking and financial services sector, policy-makers, innovators and service providers active in the financial services sector.

Telecoms operators and service providers and civil society organisations involved in delivering banking micro-finance in rural areas are also expected to take part.

Reuters reports that the Kenyan opposition party plans to halt street protests over the disputed re-election of Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki after the demonstrations planned for today. Delegates attending the banking technology conference should therefore not be concerned about safety issues, says the organiser.

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