Aitec Africa postpones conference

Johannesburg, 05 Feb 2008

Kenya's political and civil unrest have forced Aitec Africa to postpone its African Banking Technology Conference from February to April.

The postponement was forced by an increase in cancellations by international speakers, as their countries' insurance policies will not recognise their travelling into Kenya, Aitec Africa says.

In late December, Kenya, formerly regarded as stable and a top telecommunications investment prospect in the region, erupted in violence after supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga accused president Mwai Kibaki of rigging the 27 December elections.

More than 1 000 people were killed during the civil unrest, with thousands more injured or left homeless.

Paynet Group MD Bernard Matthewman says he is confident Kenya's political situation will have normalised by April, providing a favourable environment for the conference. The Paynet Group is the lead sponsor for the conference.

Nairobi remains a major economic hub in the region and the continued support to hold the event in the city further reinforces this position, he notes.

Aitec Africa chairman Sean Moroney says the conference is an opportunity for Kenya's business community to reinforce the country's role as a regional financial hub and Nairobi's status as an international conference destination.

"The recent tragic events in Kenya make it all the more important for Kenya's business community to support the event as a platform to tap into latest international trends in banking technology, learn from peers from throughout Africa and internationally, and think about how they can apply them in developing the country's financial sector to world-class levels," Moroney says in a media statement.

Sharing insight

The main conference will now run from 1 to 3 April, at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.

The event, in its second year, aims to provide a platform for the sharing of knowledge and best practices in banking across Africa, Aitec Africa says.

The effective application of IT and telecommunication solutions is essential for developing a profitable balance between these two sides of the banking market, says Moroney.

The conference will be preceded by a one-day MBA course, facilitated by international speaker and banking consultant Joe DiVanna.

DiVanna will deliver a keynote address at the conference, and a free lecture for senior university students, graduates and academics on the need for innovative banking in Africa to bank the unbanked.

He will also address an executive breakfast for bank CEOs to brief them on the latest trends in international banking.