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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 67875, member: 636"] Mastercard convened its inaugural Africa Edge Summit in Nairobi on Tuesday, assembling executives from banks, financial technology firms, telecommunications companies and regulatory agencies to discuss advancing the continent's electronic payment networks. The gathering examined strategies for expanding digital commerce infrastructure as Africa's internet-based economy moves toward a projected valuation of $1.5 trillion by 2030. Mark Elliott, who oversees Mastercard operations across Africa, said the forum emphasized collaboration among ecosystem participants to create secure and accessible transaction platforms. Attendees watched the first Agent Pay transaction completed within the Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region and received demonstrations of Merchant Cloud, a consolidated platform combining payment processing with artificial intelligence and security features for retailers operating through multiple channels. Panel discussions highlighted immediate settlement systems that enable small enterprises to manage cash flow more effectively. Shehryar Ali, senior vice president for East Africa operations, noted that 91 percent of Kenyan small businesses already use digital payment methods. Sessions also addressed identity verification challenges, with presentations showing how biometric technology combats fraudulent account creation. The summit ended with recognition ceremonies honoring partners advancing financial inclusion objectives throughout African markets. [/QUOTE]

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