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Event

Vietnam to rethink financial services after a cutting-edge show at WFIS

In an exclusive setup that convened over 500 financial sector professionals, the second annual edition of World Financial Innovation Series (WFIS) in Vietnam gave an industrywide push to accommodate the latest tech advancements in FSI.

Held at one of the poshest 5-star venue, Melia Hanoi, the event took place on 15 – 16 April 2024 and got inaugurated by the Vice Chairman & Secretary General of Vietnam Banks Association (VNBA), Dr Nguyen Quoc Hung and the event organizer, Sudhir Ranjan Jena (Co-founder & CEO, Tradepass).

Unveiling a whole spectrum of discussion around areas like Cloud Technologies, Generative AI, Fintech Leaps and Digital Banking, the platform very precisely depicted the pulse of the industry and got numerous verticals together to engage in meaningful dialogues.

While Generative AI has taken the whole world by storm, it found a significant spot in the conference’s agenda as well. A strong testament to its widespread popularity is the fact that it got highlighted during two distinct keynote sessions titled “Generative AI for Financial Services” by AWS Vietnam & Indochina and “Revolutionizing Banking: The power of Generative AI” by VinBigdata.

During a face-to-face interview, the Chief Digital Officer from Techcombank, Pranav Seth who was also a key speaker at the event, gave an impressive reply explaining how the bank’s recent 22 percent year-on-year Profit Before Tax (PBT) can be attributed to the its digital side.

He expressed, “As a universal bank I think there’s a lot in terms of transformation that needs to come together, so I think digital is a large part of it. On the digital side what we have been able to do is massively scale up our acquisition efforts. So, last year we were able to acquire about 2.3 million high quality customers and create one of the highest engagements with them digitally. Our customers interact with us around 50 times a month and for each of those opportunity we use all the data that we have.”

Furthermore, he went on to talk about what he liked the most about the platform WFIS, “I am really surprised and impressed by the turnout and professionalism of the whole setup and excited to see so many people from the industry in Vietnam. It seems like a very high-quality international event and I am thankful to Tradepass for hosting this in Hanoi.”

The event witnessed a magnificent lineup of thought leaders from Vietnam’s top-notch banks, financial institutions, and technology companies. Even Southeast Asia’s very first fintech to win a digital banking license, UNObank was seen participating in a very insightful fireside chat on MSME Banking.

Its Chairman, Kalidas Ghose even elucidated on the bank’s remarkable journey, he expressed, “So, the journey has obviously been very encouraging and motivating to look at. First of all, we found that with modern technology you can establish a fully compliant bank in a relatively short span of time. But what is more interesting is that the UNObanking model is purely digital so we do not have any physical presence like branches or ATMs. While on one hand that can act as a constraint on the other it can really open up a huge world of opportunities for reaching out to a larger audience of customers”.

Talking in numbers, he further stated, “We have been able to acquire close to 1.5 million customers in less than 15 months’ time and this has been possible because of the strong partnerships but also very efficient organic channels through which we acquire customers.”

The attendees were spoilt for choice as they got a splendid opportunity to explore a wide array of fintech solutions from top technology giants like AWS, VinBigdata, Oracle, Coreium, iProov and many others.

All in all, the two-days at WFIS 2024 – Vietnam gave a glimpse of the country’s progressive future and its vibrant financial sector that’s poised to undertake the latest tech advancements. The participating financial institutions received some eye-opening intel and evaluated cutting-edge products and strategies for enhanced delivery of their services.  

For more information about the event, log on to:
https://vietnam.worldfis.com

by Vivek Kumar

W7Worldwide proudly announces that Abdulrahman Inayat has been recognized as PR Leader of the Year at the prestigious Athar Festival 2025, in a category presented in association with the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) — the global representative body for PR associations and consultancies. Representing the world’s leading PR consultancies and national associations across more than 80 countries, ICCO serves as the global voice of the public relations industry. This recognition underscores Inayat’s exceptional leadership and W7Worldwide’s continued contribution to advancing the communications landscape across Saudi Arabia, the MENA region, and international markets. “This achievement is not only personal; it reflects the collective dedication of our W7Worldwide team and the transformation we are witnessing across the Saudi communication landscape,” said Abdulrahman Inayat . “We are proud to contribute to shaping a globally competitive PR industry that mirrors Vision 2030’s ambition and creativity.” This honor adds to a recent series of distinctions recognizing Abdulrahman Inayat’s leadership in the communications sector. He was previously elected Chairman of the Regional Board of the International Public Relations Network (IPRN) for the Middle East and North Africa. He also made history as the youngest board member of PRCA MENA and was presented with the Outstanding Leadership Award, further underscoring his influence across the regional marketing and communications landscape. Meanwhile, W7Worldwide has received over 30 awards in recent years across local, regional, and global platforms, being recognized among the leading communications consultancies in the region. “Abdulrahman’s recognition as PR Leader of the Year exemplifies the excellence and ambition driving the Middle East’s creative marketing and communications community forward,” said Ian Fairservice, Chairman of Motivate Media Group and Festival Co-Founder. W7Worldwide has evolved into one of the region’s most respected homegrown communications consultancies, earning international acclaim for its strategic thinking, innovative storytelling, and deep cultural understanding. The agency continues to lead the way in positioning Saudi and MENA communications excellence on the global stage. About W7Worldwide W7Worldwide is a homegrown, award-winning communications consultancy known for its strategic insights, thought leadership, and culturally grounded storytelling. With a proven track record of partnering with more than 100 clients across diverse sectors, the firm has built deep expertise in reputation management and strategic communication, helping organizations strengthen trust and visibility. Operating across the MENA region and international markets, W7Worldwide continues to elevate Saudi communications leadership on the global stage.

by Vivek Kumar

The inaugural edition of CARE (Climate Action, Renewable Energy & Sustainability) forum series by Trescon, is set to become the MENA region’s most influential platform for sustainability investment and climate innovation. The forum will unite regional and global leaders driving the Middle East’s clean energy transition. Co-located with DATE, a Digitization, AI & Emerging Tech Summit, CARE MENA will take place on 26-27 November at the iconic Madinat Jumeirah. “With the GCC committing billions to renewable infrastructure, CARE MENA offers a unique, action-oriented platform where capital meets climate ambition,” said Naveen Bharadwaj, Group CEO, Trescon. He continued, “From solar and hydrogen to green finance and industrial decarbonisation, the series will spotlight investable opportunities that support net-zero goals and drive regional climate action.” Talking about the series, Jens Y. Zimmermann, President, Orios Venture Partners, said, “Looking forward to CARE and learning more about new developments, trends & investment opportunities in climate & renewable energy.”  For start-ups, scale-ups and climate tech ventures, CARE MENA is a launchpad and a great opportunity to secure investments.  “I’m looking forward to CARE as a platform to uncover investment opportunities in climate tech and renewables,” said Kevin Holliday, CEO, Venturebeam. Ahmed Refaie, CEO & Global CIO, G.P.I. Global Partners Investments Limited said, “CARE gives an opportunity for climate finance and investment practicing professionals to deploy capital in an environmentally impactful and responsible way.” Whether seeking Series A investment, strategic partnerships or market access, participants will gain direct exposure to venture capital firms, institutional investors, family offices, and sovereign funds. Backed by some of the region’s most prominent investors — from the Royal Group and Sharjah Investment & Development Authority (Shurooq) to ARM Holding, Venturesouq, Plug and Play, and others — CARE MENA is set to spark high impact collaborations. Talking about the opportunities at CARE, Sofia Kostiunina, Managing Director, 100VP commented, “From the VC perspective, I see CARE as an excellent platform to identify breakthrough opportunities in renewable energy and climate tech.” Flagship initiatives include: CARE ESG Awards, hosted by Trescon and supported by ESG MENA, will also spotlight and celebrate the “Responsible Investor of the Year” and the “Young Sustainability Pioneer of the Year”. Sessions at the summit will explore regulatory reform, capital flows and technology deployment, with a sharp focus on commercial viability and regional scalability. With the help of its sponsors including Emtribe, Cero Hero, Enjazponic, S&P Global and others, CARE MENA will also feature investor roundtables, pitch sessions and partnership forums — ensuring that conversations lead to commitments. For founders, it’s a chance to pitch to decision-makers. For corporates, it’s a front-row seat to the next wave of green innovation. And for investors, it’s access to the region’s most promising ventures and infrastructure projects.

by Vivek Kumar

TiEcon Delhi-NCR 2025, India’s largest deeptech summit, set the tonefor one of the nation’s most significant science and technology developments — the launch of the ₹1lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund by Prime Minister Narendra Modi atthe Emerging Science and Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025. At the two-day TiEcon Delhi-NCR, a keynote fireside conversation titled “Quantum Leap: AcceleratingIndia’s Tech Sovereignty” brought together Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science& Technology (DST- GOI), and Dr. Saurabh Srivastava, Chairman Emeritus, TiE Delhi-NCR. Thediscussion highlighted India’s focus on strengthening deep-tech capabilities through collaborativeR&D, private sector participation, and startup-led innovation – a vision that aligns closely with theobjectives of the newly launched RDI Fund. Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, GOI said, “India stands at adefining moment in its deep-tech journey. The Research, Development and Innovation Fund is afirst-of-its-kind initiative to empower corporates, industries, and startups across sunrise sectors suchas quantum, AI, semiconductors, biotech, and advanced manufacturing. With liberalized norms and atwo-tier fund management model, it aims to catalyse private sector R&D, promote IP creation withinIndia, and strengthen our path toward technological sovereignty. The government’s role is to enable,not control – fostering risk-taking and long-term R&D investment that builds India’s innovationstrength.” Sharing his perspective, Dr. Saurabh Srivastava, Chairman Emeritus, TiE Delhi-NCR, said, “India’sambition to achieve tech sovereignty depends on uniting scientific excellence with entrepreneurialexecution. By deepening collaboration between academia, research, and startups, we can turncutting-edge discoveries into world-class products. TiE Delhi-NCR continues to be a catalyst for thisecosystem, connecting innovators, investors, and policymakers to drive India’s next wave oftechnological breakthroughs.”The session followed the inaugural keynote by Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister ofCommerce and Industries, who emphasised the government’s vision to build a deep-tech ecosystempowered by innovation and youth engagement. Organised by TiE Delhi-NCR, TiEcon Delhi-NCR 2025 brought together policymakers, investors,founders, and global thought leaders to discuss India’s next growth frontier in technology andentrepreneurship. For over 25 years, TiE Delhi-NCR has been a driving force in India’s innovationlandscape, fostering collaboration, mentorship, and investment that continue to shape the country’stransformation into a global innovation powerhouse.About TiE Delhi-NCR TiE Delhi-NCR is one of the most active and vibrant chapters of TiE Global, dedicated to fosteringentrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, education, and funding. With a legacy spanningover two decades, TiE Delhi-NCR continues to empower innovators and founders, driving India’stransformation into a global innovation powerhouse.