FINANCIAL-SECTOR
The second edition of the Financial Sector Conference (FSC 2023) has concluded in Riyadh, with a mood of optimism and energy to overcome market challenges to build a stronger, technology driven and sustainable economy of the future.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230317005086/en/
Courtney Powell, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner, 500 Global (Photo: AETOSWire)
Over 3200 participants from 82 countries, and 180 media, assembled in the Saudi capital to discuss the way ahead for the global financial community under the conference theme of “Promising Financial Prospects.”
Representatives from some of the biggest global financial institutions joined Government Finance Ministers met to identify the most effective road map for future growth and prosperity for the sector – enabling greater use of technology, diversification, cross border cooperation and embracing the green economy.
The conference also saw multiple MOUs and agreements signed to support real estate development; FinTech development and digital financing solutions worth billions of dollars and the National Bank of Iraq announced the start of operations in Saudi Arabia.
Concluding the conference, Saudi Central Bank Governor HE Ayman Mohammed Alsayari highlighted the Kingdom's efforts to provide an attractive environment for FinTech companies in line with the goals of Vision 2030 goals, and the vital role they play to support the growth of the private sector, to diversify the economy, and to stimulate saving, financing and investment.
Debating the important role of Venture Capital, Courtney Powell, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner, 500 Global, said: “Since we made our first investment in the Middle East in 2012, we have seen incredible growth and we have 14 companies today valued at over $100 million. The willingness of the government to support entrepreneurs combined with the opening up of the Kingdom shows it has the potential of becoming a leading global hub for entrepreneurship.”
In discussion about the future of global money flows, HE Giancarlo Giorgetti, Italian Minister of Economy and Finance stated: “In the financial sector, fragmentation induced by geopolitical tension will have strong implications by affecting global and financial stability, the cross-border allocation of capital, international payment systems, and asset prices.”
Financing for the SME sector was a key debating point on the final day of the conference with the enormous growth of the sector both in the Middle East and internationally. Tala Al Jabri, Board Member, Middle East VC Association (MEVCA) identified a major financing gap for the sector. He said: “95% of enterprises in the region are SMEs and the loan profile that goes to them is only 7% – which is the lowest in the world, indicating a massive gap.”
The FinTech sector in Saudi Arabia meanwhile is flourishing as Ziad Alyousef, Deputy Governor for Development and Technology, Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) explained: “In 2018, there were less than 10 companies operating in the FinTech community. Now, there are over 155 companies operating in the space in Saudi Arabia and this has led to increased investments and job creation."
*Source: AETOSWire
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230317005086/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
C5 Capital Partners with Ukraine’s Brave1 Accelerator to Advance Ukraine’s Defense Innovation4.10.2024 17:46:00 CEST | Press release
C5 Capital, a specialist venture capital firm based in Washington DC and London announces a strategic partnership with Brave1, Ukraine’s premier defense technology accelerator. This collaboration will support Ukraine’s innovative tech startups, accelerating the development and application of critical technologies for the defense of Ukraine against Russian aggression. Brave1 leads Ukraine’s defense innovation ecosystem. Since its launch, the accelerator has evaluated more than 2,600 cutting-edge defense-focused innovations. This remarkable achievement has established Ukraine as emerging global leader in defense technology and innovation. C5 Capital’s partnership will provide investment capital and strategic expertise needed to help Ukrainian founders grow and scale their defense startups, whose innovations are already being tested and deployed in battlefield conditions. “C5 Capital’s strategic partnership with Brave1 is focused on empowering Ukraine’s courageous founders, who are buildi
TXOne Networks Expands Edge Series of OT-Native Network Security Appliances4.10.2024 10:49:00 CEST | Press release
The product family is supercharged with new models and a powerful firmware upgrade. TXOne Networks, a leader in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) security, today announced Version 2.1 of its Edge series of networking security appliances. designed to protect industrial processes and infrastructure without disrupting operations. This update enhances network resilience and adaptability across a wider range of industrial verticals. “Our Edge series is specifically engineered for the complexities of OT networks, where traditional IT cybersecurity solutions fall short,” said Dr. Terence Liu, CEO of TXOne Networks. “With version 2.1, we’ve elevated the Edge product line to address the unique challenges faced by OT environments—where disruption isn’t an option. This release underscores our commitment to delivering robust, adaptable security that not only meets current demands but anticipates the evolving needs of industrial operations.” TXOne Networks collaborates with manufacturers and critical in
WELOCK and ApartX Ink Key China-Kazakhstan Digital Trade Agreement at Global Digital Trade Expo4.10.2024 03:54:00 CEST | Press release
Signing Ceremony of China-Kazakhstan Digital Trade Key Project by WELOCK and ApartX in Global Digital Trade Expo On September 25th, the 3rd Global Digital Trade Expo “Digital Trade Night” was held in Hangzhou. The event highlighted important digital trade projects between China and Kazakhstan, injecting constant momentum into economic and trade cooperation between the two sides. During the event, the much-anticipated signing ceremony for the “China-Kazakhstan Digital Trade Key Project” was officially launched. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241003595967/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) Important witnesses of the signing ceremony included: Zhaslan Madiyev (Minister) Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yao Gaoyuan Mayor of Hangzhou Avazhan Mukanova (Director of the Department of International Cooperation) Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Ae
Wrth: The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts Captivates Greece with the Intricate 'Al-Qatt Al-Asiri’ Art3.10.2024 18:01:00 CEST | Press release
Saudi traditional arts are set to reach new global audiences as the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (Wrth) participates in the Saudi Cultural Week in Greece from September 27 to October 1. The event, titled “The Heritage of Two Cultures," explores Saudi heritage through the lens of "Al-Qatt Al-Asiri" art. Wrth offers a series of interactive workshops, including a highlight on the creation of natural dyes and gypsum carving arts with workshops and hands-on community artworks. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241003645976/en/ Wrth: The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts Captivates Greece with the Intricate 'Al-Qatt Al-Asiri’ Art (Photo: AETOSWire) As part of Culture Week, five talented Saudi artists lead interactive workshops showcasing the art of gypsum carving with traditional ‘Asiri’ patterns. This unique art form gained international recognition after being inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Herit
Experience the Future of Smarter AI for All at Lenovo’s Tenth Annual Global Tech World Event3.10.2024 15:40:00 CEST | Press release
The flagship event showcases Lenovo’s comprehensive portfolio of AI solutions, services, and devices with featured sessions from global leaders at Lenovo, AMD, Intel, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and more On October 15, 2024, Lenovo will host its annual global innovation event, Tech World, in Bellevue, Washington. This marks the 10th consecutive year of the event and reflects a decade of innovation and transformation from the company. This year’s event will explore how Lenovo is delivering on the promise of artificial intelligence (AI) with end-to-end solutions fueling its mission of Smarter AI for All. Technology featured will include ground-breaking AI for Good projects, hybrid AI to empower both individuals and enterprises, and proven ways to fast-track and deploy generative AI. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241003339216/en/ What's next for AI? Join us October 15, 2024 at #LenovoTechWorld to hear top industry leade
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom