BY LINDELWA MYENI
MBABANE – The FinTech Working Group has been transformed into the FinTech Forum Eswatini (FFE) to broaden participation in the country’s technology ecosystem and strengthen collaboration among government, academia, industry, innovators and students during Indaba X Eswatini held at the Central Bank of Eswatini headquarters today.
The transition was announced by Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) Governor Phil Mnisi as stakeholders gathered to strengthen cooperation and find ways of advancing Eswatini’s technology and innovation ecosystem.
Mnisi said the FinTech Working Group had been established several years ago by different institutions to bring together expertise and address issues affecting the country’s technology ecosystem.
He said the experience gained through the working group had demonstrated the value of having institutions work together, but there was now a need to widen the platform and bring more stakeholders into the process.
“The group is now required to engage industry, innovators, centres, students, and the spectrum of stakeholders,” Mnisi said.
He explained that member institutions had therefore agreed that the working group should evolve into a forum with a broader mandate and participation.
The FFE will provide a platform for different players within the technology ecosystem to engage with one another and contribute to discussions on the country’s technological development.
Mnisi said the expanded platform would allow stakeholders to bring their different areas of expertise and experience to the same space, creating opportunities for stronger cooperation between institutions.
He also extended an invitation to government institutions to participate in the forum and use the platform to advance technology and innovation initiatives.
The Governor said Eswatini already has institutions with expertise in technology and innovation, and that greater cooperation among these institutions could help accelerate the country’s progress.
He encouraged stakeholders to leverage platforms such as the FFE and work with institutions including the Central Bank of Eswatini to support initiatives that can contribute to the development of the technology ecosystem.
The transformation also brings together a wider network of local and international partners involved in the Indaba X Eswatini programme, including academic institutions, technology organisations and innovation stakeholders.
Mnisi acknowledged the contribution of the Deep Learning Consortium, Seeing Africa, Namibia University of Science and Technology, University of Zimbabwe and AI Eswatini, among other partners, towards strengthening the platform.
He said the involvement of these institutions and organisations provided an opportunity to connect Eswatini with wider expertise and experience in technology and innovation.
The Governor said the next step was to formalise the forum and its structures, with stakeholders invited to participate in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.
The reintroduction of the FinTech Working Group as the FinTech Forum Eswatini marks a move towards a broader and more inclusive platform for collaboration within Eswatini’s technology ecosystem.
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