Rwanda's President Paul Kagame speaks at IFF 2025

The Inclusive FinTech Forum 2025, a global platform on financial inclusion and fintech for good, has entered day two at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda. Leaders, investors, and fintech experts have gathered to engage in impactful dialogues aimed at advancing financial inclusion through fintech. CNBC Africa's Flora Limukii reports live from the event, where over 3,000 delegates are discussing critical issues driving economic growth in Africa's fintech landscape. Deep-dive conversations at the forum cover topics such as capital market stability, digital infrastructure, cross-border innovation, the transformative potential of digital assets in Africa, and the challenges of financing and cybersecurity within the industry. Artificial intelligence is also a key focus, seen as a major disruptor in the fintech sector. During the second day of the forum, President Paul Kagame officially opened the event with a speech emphasizing the role of fintech and digital transformation in driving economic growth in Africa. He highlighted the potential for the fintech landscape to generate at least US$40 billion in revenue by 2028 across the continent. President Kagame also acknowledged the importance of partnerships, mentioning the collaboration between Rwanda and Singapore to leverage the digital economy's power. He stressed the need for entrepreneurs to think big, act boldly, and remain focused, drawing inspiration from success stories like that of a young innovator from Zambia. The President pointed out the significant growth of African fintech companies, with the number tripling in recent years. These enterprises, ranging from start-ups to established businesses, are reshaping the financial services sector, particularly in areas such as mobile money and remittance services. Despite these advancements, President Kagame highlighted challenges such as the brain drain of skilled developers leaving Africa for opportunities abroad. He emphasized the importance of financial inclusion, especially for marginalized groups like women in the informal economy. The President called for collective efforts to address global financial constraints and support each other in driving sustainable development. In conclusion, President Kagame urged business founders to gain investor confidence by demonstrating their ability to solve identified problems effectively. Taking ownership of development and driving innovation were key messages from his address at the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2025.