The times of traditional methods of banking that focused on the government, corporates and elite individuals are long gone. This year’s AITEC Banking and Mobile
Money COMESA conference creates an atmosphere that forms a new era of economic integration. A cross border regional banking.
Nairobi has been in the forefront of the mobile money revolution, thanks to the developers. Customers have been empowered with the mobile money transfer services; now expect services that suit their needs across borders. On the 2nd and 3rd March 2011, AITEC Banking & Mobile Money COMESA conference to be held in Nairobi looks beyond the mobile money phenomenon.
The theme of the conference, “Innovation for a new era of financial inclusion and integration”, means that banks have to forge new partnerships to stay abreast says Bernard Matthewman, CEO of conference participant, Paynet.
With the local banks trying to catch up with enterprises that think and act regionally, AITEC has partnered with the region’s two apex business organizations. The East African Business Council and the COMESA Business Council who want to break down borders and costs in driving forward economic costs across the region. These organizations are going to make practical contributions to the conference outcomes.

EABC will deliver an in-depth position paper on the financial services required to underpin the East African Community vision; and CBC by working with bankers from throughout COMESA region to use the conference as a platform to re - launch COMESA Bankers Association.

Globally, the Kenyan banking sector is now the fastest growing of any banking industry, with asset growth of 24.7% as per May, 2010. “It is a surprise how slow technology take-up has been in banking, outside of the few key players”, says Lauren Bosch, Sales Director of the conference participant, Internet solutions. “Consolidation now seems inevitable”

COMESA is committed to upgrading the region’s banking capabilities as an essential platform for cross – border trade and investment. But progress has been stilted to date, with a small group of Kenyan Bankers now leading the world in banking technology, platform and growth, besides a large number of local banks that remain backward in their service delivery.

Paynet, Electronic finance technologies, Internet solutions, Sevenseas, Nokia, SAP, Manam Infotech and IBM are some of the sponsors of this conference.