The Inclusive FinTech Forum 2024 in Rwanda gathered leaders, investors, and fintech experts to discuss financial inclusion, digital skills, and cross-border payments
The Inclusive FinTech Forum 2024, taking place from 24–26 February 2025 in Rwanda, bringing together global leaders, investors, and fintech professionals to advance financial inclusion and digital transformation. The event was a collaboration between the Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC), the National Bank of Rwanda, and the Global Finance & Technology Network, an initiative by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
On the first day, Rwanda Minister of Education, Hon. Joseph Nsengimana, emphasised the importance of investing in human capital, stating that Rwanda’s education system focuses not only on technology but also on creativity, entrepreneurship, and soft skills.
A panel discussion on empowering African SMEs in the digital ecosystem highlighted the role of regulators in digital transformation. Deputy Governor, The National Bank of Rwanda, Hon. Soraya Hakuziyaremye, noted that financial regulators must understand digitalisation to effectively regulate and support SMEs.
The panel “𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠” featured insights from Chief Technology and Information Officer of RSSB Rwanda, Lionel Ngendakuriyo, who underscored the impact of mindset shifts, citing that a small team influenced skilling opportunities for 12 million people in Rwanda.
Other key discussions included the future of digital skills, financial inclusion strategies, and the role of fintech in cross-border trade. L. Nshuti Mbabazi, Managing Director of Better Than Cash, stressed the need for interoperable digital merchant payments to support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The forum also featured a dialogue between central bankers on digital money, where Charles Kajeneri, Director of Payment Systems at the Central Bank of Rwanda, shared Rwanda’s progress in instant payments through the RIPPS system and the expansion of mobile wallets like eKash for business transactions.
Source: Inclusive FinTech Forum
