The BCD and the CTID are organizing the 2nd edition of the DJIBOUTI FINTECH FORUM.
Under the high patronage of Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, the second edition of the Djibouti Fintech Forum was held yesterday at the Escale International Hotel.
This second edition, co-organized by the Central Bank of Djibouti and the Centre for Technology and Innovation for Development (CTID), brought together on site, in addition to the Governor of the Central Bank of Djibouti, Ahmed Osman Ali, and the Commissioner General of the Djibouti Fintech Forum and Director of the CTID, Mr. Samatar Abdi Osman, the Minister of Communication, in charge of Posts and Telecommunications, Radwan Abdillahi Bahdon, the Chairman of the Ports and Free Zones Authority, Aboubaker Omar Hadi, other government members, parliamentarians, representatives of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the United Nations system, civil society representatives, and a host of invited guests.
Note that over two days, this forum will feature panels and training sessions on a variety of topics, including digital and Islamic finance, the role of stakeholders, FinTech challenges and opportunities, universal access to financial services, and ecosystem development, among others. The objective is to promote financial technologies among all these groups, encouraging them to actively participate in Djibouti’s digital transformation. The ultimate goal of this forum is to advocate for financial technologies among all decision-makers in both the public and private sectors, young innovators, entrepreneurs, and others. This event offers a unique opportunity to understand the issues, challenges, and opportunities presented by FinTech.
Participants will have the opportunity to exchange views on the latest trends, address current challenges, and design innovative solutions for the future.
The forum brought together the key stakeholders of the sector, including decision-makers from the public and private sectors, young innovators, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders.
“Together, we are committed to promoting responsible innovation in the Fintech sector.”
Ahmed Osman Ali
Governor of the Central Bank of Djibouti
In partnership with the Centre for Technology and Innovation for Development (CTID), we are gathered today to explore the significant advancements and exciting challenges that financial technologies represent for our country. The Central Bank of Djibouti is proud to co-organize the second edition of this forum, which aims to promote financial technological innovation while ensuring the stability, security, modernity, and efficiency of the financial sector of the Republic of Djibouti.
Fintech, which refers to the extensive use of new information technologies in finance, plays a crucial role in the transformation of our financial sector by offering new solutions to improve access to financial services, promote economic inclusion, and strengthen the resilience of our economy in the face of global challenges. Our focus will be on key topics such as electronic payments and PayTech, which are already well established in Djibouti, exploring infrastructure and investment strategies necessary for their development in order to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
We will benefit from the expertise of our guests to take a broader look at other fintech areas such as crowdfunding (currently being introduced), InsurTech, RegTech, and neobanks, among others. We will also address skills development by examining best practices for training a qualified workforce in emerging financial technologies. To this end, several technical training sessions focused on key themes for developing the Fintech ecosystem are scheduled during this forum.
Another important topic will be regional integration through innovative payment solutions aimed at boosting intra-African trade and strengthening economic ties across our rapidly growing continent.
It should be noted that for this edition, and in partnership with CTID, we will unveil the very first mapping report of fintech actors in Djibouti. This report will serve as a key foundation for structuring our ecosystem and identifying current and future growth opportunities for our economy. We are grateful to all participants, experts, and industry stakeholders who contribute to enriching our discussions and shaping the future of finance in Djibouti and beyond. Together, we are committed to exploring new frontiers, building fruitful partnerships, and encouraging responsible innovation in the Fintech sector.
In a brief speech delivered on site, the Commissioner General of the Djibouti Fintech Forum and Director of CTID, Mr. Samatar Abdi Osman, emphasized the importance of this forum for our ecosystem. According to him, it aims to catalyze the local ecosystem through the convergence of finance and technology. “I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the special nature of this second edition compared to the first edition, knowing that the first edition helped launch D-Money and all the subsequent fintech developments, including Wafi as well. Five African countries are with us—Algeria, the Republic of Chad, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo—to participate and put Djibouti on the fintech map,” he said.
For his part, the Governor of the Central Bank of Djibouti, Mr. Ahmed Osman Ali, expressed his satisfaction with the organization of this second edition of the Fintech Forum in Djibouti and stated that “the Central Bank of Djibouti is proud to co-organize the second edition of this forum, which aims to promote financial technological innovation while ensuring the stability, security, modernity, and efficiency of the financial sector of the Republic of Djibouti.”
“The Fintech sector, which refers to the extensive use of new information technologies in finance, plays a crucial role in transforming our financial sector by offering new solutions to improve access to financial services, promote economic inclusion, and strengthen the resilience of our economy in the face of global challenges,” he emphasized.
For his part, the Minister of Communication, in charge of Posts and Telecommunications, Radwan Abdillahi Bahdon, stated that “AI and big data represent powerful catalysts of transformation. They promise to enhance operational efficiency and expand access to financial services, thereby creating unprecedented financial inclusion for all citizens of Djibouti. Today, we are witnessing a historic convergence between finance and technology, where traditional boundaries are fading and innovation transcends limits. As a nation, we are ready to seize these opportunities with boldness and determination.”
«Under the leadership of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, Djibouti has firmly committed itself to the path of digital transformation. The Head of State’s strong commitment to technological innovation has laid the foundations for a modern and dynamic economy, conducive to the growth of fintech companies and to improving the well-being of our citizens,” he stated in essence.
Mohamed Chakib
“We are determined to carry forward President Guelleh’s enlightened vision to support innovation and create an environment conducive to the growth of Fintech in Djibouti.”
Radwan Abdillahi Bahdon
Minister of Communication, in charge of Posts and Telecommunications
This event, which brings together the brightest minds in the information technology and finance sectors, is a showcase of innovation and the potential of our nation in the field of fintech.
This year’s theme, “Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in the Service of Fintech,” is not only timely but also represents a unique opportunity for our country to position itself as a regional leader in the adoption and use of emerging technologies.
AI and big data are powerful catalysts of transformation. They promise to enhance operational efficiency and expand access to financial services, thereby creating unprecedented financial inclusion for all citizens of Djibouti. Today, we are witnessing a historic convergence between finance and technology, where traditional boundaries are fading and innovation is transcending limits. As a nation, we are ready to seize these opportunities with boldness and determination.
Under the leadership of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, Djibouti has firmly committed itself to the path of digital transformation. The Head of State’s strong commitment to technological innovation has laid the foundations for a modern and dynamic economy, conducive to the growth of fintech companies and to improving the well-being of our citizens.
As a government, we are determined to carry forward the enlightened vision of His Excellency President Guelleh to support innovation and create an environment conducive to the growth of fintech in Djibouti. This involves appropriate policies, robust infrastructure, and an agile regulatory framework that encourages experimentation and collaboration between the public and private sectors.
We are at a turning point. The future of fintech in Djibouti depends on our ability to embrace change, adopt new technologies, and encourage entrepreneurship in this field. Together, we can build an innovative ecosystem where every citizen benefits from the fruits of the digital revolution.
This forum provides a unique platform to share our visions, explore new collaborations, and jointly shape the future of fintech in Djibouti. I encourage each of you to actively participate in the discussions, share your innovative ideas, and contribute to a dynamic and inclusive fintech ecosystem.
In conclusion, I would like to commend the organizers, particularly the Centre for Technology and Innovation for Development (CTID) and the Central Bank of Djibouti. I also thank the partners and all participants who made this event possible.
Together, we are opening a new era of opportunities for the economic and social development of our country through the transformative power of financial technologies.