Cardexpo Africa 2015 Set To Focus On E-payment Incentives And Innovation To Drive Growth

By The Nigerian Voice

Intermarc Consulting Limited is set to host the 15th edition of Africa’s most anticipated CARDEXPO AFRICA 2015 Conference and Exhibition with special focus on Card, Mobile, Identification and Payment. The event will hold at the Eko Hotel and Suite, Victoria Island, Lagos, from June 23 – 25, 2015.

According to the organizers, the theme for this year is “INNOVATION: THE FUTURE OF ePAYMENT”.

This will focus greatly on the future of payment, the assumption that underlines growth potentials and how innovation will drive the process.

The conference and exhibition will also focus on new users as well as the service delivery strategy that will deliver the future of payment.

Speaking with Conference Director, Lilian Ekwedike, she noted that while the payment landscape has evolved rapidly over the past decade, due to a flurry of innovation and regulation, expansive growth in electronic payments and the inclusion of new market entrants, industry research indicates that the next decade will yield a period of even faster changes.

Her words ‘In the traditional electronic payment sector the weak national economies across Africa continues to drive cost efficiencies in both domestic and international payment systems. International trade expansion and globalization are growing the demands for cross border payment while the rapidly changing demands of corporates, non-banks and banks for lower, reduced fees and improved services will increase pressure on traditional payments models to rationalize. The retail payment sector is already undergoing major change primarily as a result of the disruptive impact of ecommerce mobile and tablets. There is a rapid development of new payment concepts and business structures which will displace traditional cash and other forms of payment.

Lilian Ekwedike stated that over the next five to seven years, retail and wholesale payments are expected to mature into highly automated and interactive eco-systems. Of particular importance and a new opportunity for banks, will be the growth in the use of traditional electronic ACH payments in the retail sector. This is beginning to happen in Nigeria with the NIBBS instant payment platform. Electronic and the newly emerging alternative payment have an increasingly important role to play in enabling banks to displace cash and cheque transactions over the next decade as e-commerce grows and payment accelerates rapidly. Innovation and new developments will be the key drivers for change over the next five to seven years.’

According to her, at this Conference and Exhibition, top card and epayment experts will be sharing inside strategies on positioning and enhancing your card business to ensure your spot in the rapidly evolving Card Ecosystem. Merchants, Issuers, Financial Institutions, and Solution Providers will hear first-hand, in insightful panel debates, a holistic idea exchange around the industry's and most pressing issues on Cards, Mobile payment, MPOS, NFC, BVN, Square Me, ATM, EFT, eGovernment payments at federal and state levels, Utility payments etc.

She also said that the company will be rewarding bank customers that frequently use their cards on POS. Merchants and sales persons who promote and encourage the use of card on POS will also be rewarded with various cash prizes under the CBN Electronic Payment Incentive Scheme (EPIS).

She confirm that her company has also put together Demo Sessions for pitches by young developers of brilliant “out of the box” payment technologies who will have the opportunity to present and demonstrate their innovative solutions during the conference. N250,000 will be won by each of the best four epayment demo pitchers. Only solutions that has not been launched or in the market will qualify to be presented at our pitches.

CardExpo Africa Exhibition continues its tradition of showcasing the most exciting developments in the payment sector. With a variety of new innovative technologies,

it has never been more important to keep pace with industry developments. With banks, cards scheme and newer entrants all vying their place at the centre of the ecosystem, this must attend event will provide insightful takeaways from the industry

Over 50 companies, including banks, Card companies from the local and international payment community have thrown their weight behind the event. Some of the companies that will showcase new innovative products and services at this event are: Diamond Bank, Zenith Bank, SecureID Limited, Heritage Bank, First Bank, Chams Group, Access Bank, Unified payment, Fidelity Bank, UBA, Visa International, EcoBank, MasterCard, Unity Bank, APPZONE, shoptomydoor, Citiserve, global accelerex, Itex, eTranzact, Samsung, Sterling Bank, Globasure, Cardstel, Inlaks, GTP, Verifone, Computer Warehouse Group, Systemspecs, Skye Bank as well as other international companies like future cards dubai, pole premium france, tribecatr south Africa, shenzentecare cards china, JCB international, Checkmarx france etc

Top government agencies, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) have also put their weight as partners to this event.

Nigerian Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele will be leading other Nigerian financial institutions’ chiefs to speak at the opening ceremony of this event while the CBN Deputy Governor, Mr Sulaiman Barau will speak at the closing dinner.

Banks and card companies have the opportunity to win in different award categories in the 2015 cardexpo awards. This is a fully automated award process incorporating online nomination and voting. The cardexpo awards is supported by NIBSS and CBN and the awards will be given out by the CBN deputy Governor at the closing dinner. To vote, please visit the conference website: www.cardatmandmobilexpo.com and click on the ‘Card Expo Awards’ tab or Visit: http://cardatmandmobilexpo.com/nomination/