Mastercard, a leading technology company in the global payments industry, recently concluded the inaugural version of the Mastercard MENA Leadership Forum that brought together senior banking authorities from throughout the region for 4 days from 5 - 8 March, 2017, in London, UK

Hosted by Mastercard as a customer engagement event offering key industry players a platform to check out originalities, share the current understandings and talk about new opportunities of growth, the Forum attracted attention to the digital future of the repayments industry

The jam-packed program of sessions focusing on the theme, Building the Digital Future, was opened by Leonard Brody, the renowned Canadian business owner, investor and author, with an informative session on exactly how the current period of innovation is impacting the world of banking and the actions financial institutions and entrepreneurs should require to stay competitive and appropriate in today's fast-changing world.

" From gaining the most beneficial insights to finding out about the latest trends and growths and belonging to a deeply significant exchange of point of views and ideas - the first version of the Mastercard MENA Leadership Forum has actually verified to be this highly productive gathering of banking officials and settlement experts who together pondered on how we need to reply to the development of the monetary industry in the direction of a more powerful digital emphasis," said Heba Al Tamimi-- General Manager Group Retail Banking, Qatar National Bank.

" Effective partnerships between banks and leading innovation carriers like Mastercard are important to the long-term development and advancement of the banking market in the region. Occasions like the Mastercard. MENA Management Forum aid enhance the industry-wide conversation on the modifications affecting the long-lasting advancement of the economic field, and aid us recognize just how technology could best be leveraged to continually remain ahead of the contour," said Suvo Sarkar, Senior Executive Vice President & Group Head - Retail Banking & Wide range Management, Emirates NBD.

" It is extremely important for banking professionals to understand the complete degree of the digital revolution that is impacting all aspects of the broader financial industry. Mastercard's initiative to bring banking executives from across the region under one roofing and launch a discussion on how we can profit from these arising digital trends to own higher value to our customers, is commendable," said David Aldred, MD, Treasury & Trade Solutions, MENAPT, CitiBank.

" Our ability in making innovations in payments work for both our customers and consumers throughout markets has actually always been an outcome of successful cooperations with our companions in the region. The Mastercard MENA Management Forum proved to be an important involvement opportunity that allowed us to recognize our companions' support as well as aided us obtain valuable understandings that will press us to furnish ourselves much better for the substantial digital transformation forming the industry's future training course," said Khalid Elgibali, Department President for Middle East and North Africa, Mastercard

The Forum likewise gave Mastercard a chance to recognize its partners for their excellence in driving developments in payments innovation in their respective markets. Winners were recognized across ten different classifications consisting of The majority of Innovative Marketing Program, Most Innovative Card Purchase. Program, Finest Costs Segment Solution, Ideal Mobile Settlement Program, Best Loyalty and Incentives. Program, Ideal SME Program, Ideal Program Delivery and Implementation, Many Inclusive Business Initiative, Best Multi-Party Cardholder Program and Ideal Commercial Card.