The East African Business Council (EABC) successfully co-hosted the 2nd Peer-to-Peer Learning Conference on Financial Sector Integration in Kampala, Uganda.
The event brought together leading regional stakeholders to deliberate on advancing financial integration and digital innovation within the East African Community (EAC), including regulators, policymakers, bankers, insurers, FinTech innovators, and investors from across the EAC
Held at Mestil Hotel, the two-day conference was themed: “Digital Innovation in Financial Services to Boost Cross-Border Trade and Productivity: Empowering East Africa’s FinTech.”
It serves as a vital platform for promoting a more integrated, efficient, and inclusive financial ecosystem in the region.
In his remarks, Henry Musasizi, Uganda’s State Minister for Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (General Duties), called on EAC Partner States to harmonize regulatory frameworks.
He stressed that alignment in regulations would enable FinTechs to fully leverage opportunities presented by regional integration and digital transformation.
Adrian Raphael Njau, Acting Executive Director of EABC, emphasized the transformative role of financial technology (FinTech) in enhancing EAC integration.
He cited the potential of digital finance to streamline cross-border payments, boost entrepreneurship and job creation, promote financial inclusion, and facilitate the free movement of capital, services, and people across the region.
However, Njau also highlighted persistent challenges facing FinTech firms, such as policy and regulatory fragmentation, weak digital infrastructure, and limited interoperability, which continue to hinder the sector from reaching its full potential.
