The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have postponed the Afro-Asia Fintech Festival from its original dates of July 13-14, 2020, to July 2021, citing ongoing health risks related to the coronavirus pandemic. The decision follows discussions between the co-hosts about prioritizing participant safety.
"The postponement follows careful consideration by the cohosts, CBK and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and the utmost importance of the health and safety of the festival participants," reads a CBK press release.
The event, first held in 2019, brought together over 1,500 attendees from 45 countries. Modeled after Singapore’s Fintech Festival, it aims to foster financial innovation from emerging markets. The 2019 edition featured the launch of the Global Fintech Hackcelerator in Kenya, which challenged startups to develop scalable financial solutions.
Kenyan company Kwara and Ugandan firm Bureau Vente won the 2019 hackathon, securing global exposure for their innovations. Virtual formats will replace physical gatherings for the 2021 event, according to organizers.
