Global payments technology company, Visa (NYSE:V), held its first-ever Saudi Payment Forum in Riyadh this week, bringing together more than 50 of its clients and partners to hear from a lineup of industry experts. The theme of the daylong event was 鈥淯nderstanding the impact of changing macroeconomic factors鈥� on the Kingdom鈥檚 digital payments ecosystem.
The keynote address was given by Nasser Saidi, former chief economist and head of external relations of Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), and minister of economy and trade and minister of industry of Lebanon between 1998 and 2000.
Delegates also heard from a number of Visa鈥檚 global experts, including Paul McCrea, vice president, products, Central Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA); Mohammed Ismaeel, senior vice president, marketing, CEMEA; and Shahebaz Khan, head of Visa Performance Solutions, MENA.
Opening the forum, Ahmed Gaber, Visa鈥檚 general manager for 黑料社区, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, said: 鈥淭he Kingdom鈥檚 electronic payments sector is steadily beginning to realize its full potential, but with cash still the dominant way to pay, the opportunity for 黑料社区鈥檚 economy is immense.
To help our partners and clients better understand the likely trajectory of the sector, Visa is proud to bring together world-renowned industry experts in Riyadh to share their expertise and insights at the first Saudi Payment Forum. This event is another important step in Visa鈥檚 ongoing work to enable a cashless future in 黑料社区.鈥�
Delegates at the Saudi Payment Forum also received updates on Visa鈥檚 2017 strategy, as well as its latest product and service innovations.