Queen Máxima to speak at Singapore FinTech Festival
In her role as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA), Her Majesty Queen Máxima will speak at the Singapore FinTech Festival on Thursday 16 November. The conference, which attracts over 13,000 participants from 60 countries, is aimed at technological applications that can improve access to financial services (fintech). Singapore’s Monetary Authority (MAS) and Association of Banks (ABS) are jointly hosting the event from 13 to 16 November at Singapore EXPO.
In her address, Queen Máxima will discuss technological innovations that could enhance access to bank or savings accounts, insurance, loans and pensions. According to the World Bank Group, two billion people and 200 million small businesses that could be contributing to economic development and poverty reduction still have no access to formal financial services. To apply fintech services securely and effectively, insight into users’ needs is required. Other key requirements are good infrastructure and balanced rules. Those attending the Queen’s speech will include policymakers and representatives of financial institutions and fintech companies.
Queen Máxima will also join the head of MAS, Ravi Menon, in leading a round-table discussion on fintech and inclusive finance. Participants will range from governors of central banks to business leaders in the field of fintech. She will also hold several bilateral meetings with representatives of government, central banks and fintech companies.
Queen Máxima, who was appointed UNSGSA in September 2009, advises the Secretary-General on issues of access to finance, and she works around the world to help make financial services available to all. This contributes in particular to development among low income groups and the SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) sector. Since June 2011, the Queen has been Honorary Patron of the G20’s Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion.