Conference Opening and Keynote Speech

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Join us as we set the stage for the discussions on the role of microfinance in navigating the shifts, shocks, and solutions within the current geopolitical landscape.

Keynote Speech by Manas Chawla

The Next Frontier for Inclusive Finance: Navigating Geopolitical Fault Lines and Technological Transformation
Join Manas Chawla for a compelling outlook on the evolving landscape impacting inclusive finance in 2025 and beyond. Drawing on real-world examples, Manas will explore how current geopolitical tensions, including Europe's shifting dynamics, intensifying US-China competition, the ongoing situation in Ukraine, Europe, and the recent US tariffs turmoil, will reverberate through financial markets and specifically affect the inclusive finance sector and the broader socio-political landscape. He will also unpack the transformative role of technology, detailing how AI proliferation, digital financial services, and data governance present both opportunities and challenges for reaching and serving vulnerable populations. Crucially, Manas will also explore how current geopolitical fault lines might influence the distribution and accessibility of these new technologies across different regions, potentially creating new divides or fostering innovative solutions in response to global dynamics