/"Sharing Knowledge and Best Practices in Banking across Africa"/ 15-22 February 2008 at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi *Hosted and organised by AITEC Africa: http://www.aitecafrica.com/?q=node/524 * Africa’s financial sector aspires to world-class systems and standards that match best practices in developed economies. But at the same time, the continent’s banks have to seek growth in the region’s vast majority of unbanked who require low-cost mass banking services. The effective application of IT and telecommunication solutions is essential for developing a profitable balance between these two sides of the banking market. World-class systems have to be carefully examined and assessed for their appropriateness to extend services to mass, low-income, mostly rural customers – instead of widening the divide between a banking system that serves an urban elite, delivering high-value services to a limited market, and the vast majority of the population that remains unbanked and therefore excluded from the formal economy. The African Banking Technology Conference provides the region’s banking community with in-depth briefings from African and international experts that will enable them to assess latest banking technology systems and strategies to achieve an effective and profitable balance. *Who is the conference aimed at?* The event will have several key audiences: • ICT managers & professionals in the banking and financial services sector • Policy-makers • High-level managers at CEO, COO and CFO level • Innovators and service providers active in the financial services sector • Telecom operators and service providers • NGOs/civil society organisations directly involved with delivering banking or microfinance services in rural areas. • Media representatives *Evaluation and Outputs* There will be several outputs from the event: • Increased knowledge among ICT managers and ICT professionals in the East African banking sector of latest international trends and technologies and their application in the region • Increased awareness among high-level non-technical managers in the sector of the vital role ICT has to play in their business strategies – and the range of technologies and systems available. • Informed media coverage that will help build a profile for the issues under discussion. • Brokering of relationships between suppliers and users of ICT systems for the financial sector. *Presentation Proposals* To propose a Forum presentation, send a brief outline to Sean Moroney, email: seanm@aitecafrica.com <mailto:seanm@aitecafrica.com> *Conference six-day programme http://www.aitecafrica.com/?q=node/524* ** *Exhibition* There will be an exhibition linked to the conference, providing an opportunity to network with participants in a unique educational setting. For more information email info@aitecafrica.com <mailto:info@aitecafrica.com>