The Fintech Islands Experience (FiX), the premier global fintech conference in the Caribbean, has announced a strategic partnership with the Ghana Fintech and Payments Association (GFPA) to foster stronger connections between fintech stakeholders across Africa and the Caribbean.
This collaboration aims to create a platform for sharing expertise, exploring investment opportunities, and promoting innovation in the fintech ecosystem across both regions.
FiX25, a three-day forum scheduled for January 22-24, 2025, at the Sam Lord’s Castle Wyndham Grand Barbados, is poised to bring together a community of disruptive and innovative leaders who are redefining financial services.
With the support of the GFPA, the leading fintech hub and not-for-profit organization established to promote the advancement of financial technologies and payment systems in Ghana, a strong African presence is expected at the event.
The partnership will facilitate the exchange of ideas, best practices, and technological innovations between fintech leaders, regulators, and entrepreneurs in Ghana and the Caribbean. This collaboration seeks to leverage the strengths of both regions in digital financial services and financial inclusion.
By building closer ties between African and Caribbean fintech communities, the partnership is expected to unlock new investment opportunities. Fintech firms from both regions can explore cross-border collaborations, partnerships, and market entry strategies to scale their businesses.
The collaboration is particularly focused on improving access to financial services for underserved populations in both Africa and the Caribbean. By pooling resources and knowledge, the two regions aim to develop solutions that address financial inclusion challenges, including mobile payments, digital banking, and remittances.
Both the Caribbean and Africa are rapidly advancing their fintech regulations. This partnership will promote closer cooperation between regulators in both regions, enabling them to create conducive environments for fintech innovation while ensuring consumer protection and financial stability.
The CEO of Fintech Islands Allison Hunte, stated that Africa has one of the fastest-growing fintech sectors globally, and there are numerous opportunities for the Caribbean to participate in this growth.
“The Caribbean is part of Africa’s sixth region, and our smaller geographic size, compared to Africa, presents a strategic opportunity for fintech players on the continent. By using the Caribbean as a sandbox, they can refine and perfect new technologies and services before expanding them on a larger scale.
The compact size of the Caribbean region offers an advantage in this regard, allowing for more focused and controlled experimentation and development,” She noted.
Through the partnership between Fintech Islands and GFPA, Mr. Martin Kwame Awagah, President of GFPA and Board Member of Africa FinTech Network, will act as the FiX25 African Representative.
His role will involve promoting FiX25 in Africa to encourage more attendees and partners from the continent. Mr. Awagah, who was a featured speaker at FiX24, said the event has proven to be a rich tapestry of peer learning, insightful discussions, and invaluable networking opportunities.
“Engaging with industry leaders and innovators not only broadened my understanding of the challenges faced by small island states but also expanded my awareness of the latest trends in fintech in the Caribbean region. The collaborative environment fostered at the event enabled meaningful exchanges beyond surface-level interactions, culminating in actionable insights that have since influenced policy development and strategic initiatives in the fintech landscape,” the FiX25 African Representative mentioned.
The third edition of FiX, dedicated to fostering a more inclusive and efficient financial system in the Caribbean and beyond, is expected to attract over 700 attendees from around the globe, more than 100 speakers, and 50-plus sponsors, marketing, and media partners.
The event will include deep-dive content tracks on important fintech topics relevant to the Caribbean community, such as Digital Transformation: Inclusive Innovation in Financial Services; Intelligent Money: Fintech at the Intersection of AI and Humanity; Modernizing Payments: Instant, Interoperable and Borderless; and Fintech Everywhere: Financial Technology Transforming our World.
The three-day event will provide a platform for fintech and other technology start-ups to connect with a broad commercial audience. It is a unique opportunity for policymakers and regulators to hear directly from industry leaders and top performers about the sector’s needs.
Additionally, the event allows organizations to exchange ideas, compare insights, and forge business connections. Attendees can expect a mix of business-building activities, cultural experiences, and networking opportunities, including island networking tours and top-notch entertainment.
This partnership between FiX and GFPA is seen as a significant step toward building a global fintech bridge that connects Africa and the Caribbean. It aligns with the growing trend of digital finance ecosystems collaborating across regions to drive financial inclusion and economic growth.
With the potential for joint ventures, knowledge sharing, and co-innovation, the partnership could lead to the development of cutting-edge fintech solutions that address common challenges in emerging markets. By enhancing these connections, both regions stand to benefit from greater exposure to global fintech trends, unlocking opportunities for sustainable economic growth driven by digital finance innovation.
