Amman, Sept. 24 (Petra) - The Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ), in cooperation with the Arab Monetary Fund and with strategic partnerships by the German Development Agency (GIZ) and the Association of Banks in Jordan, on Wednesday launched the Jordan Fintech Festival 2025.
The festival brings together central bank governors, securities regulators, representatives of the financial and banking sector, entrepreneurs, investors, and regional and international experts to explore the future of the digital financial industry, discuss global trends, and exchange experiences to foster innovation and support digital transformation.
CBJ Governor Adel Sharkas said rapid technological developments are reshaping the global financial landscape, creating unprecedented challenges and opportunities for financial institutions and innovators. He emphasized that the festival provides a vital platform to exchange expertise, showcase the latest financial technologies, and strengthen Arab and international fintech partnerships.
Hosting the event reflects Jordan’s ambitious vision to solidify its role as a regional hub for fintech innovation, aligned with the Economic Modernization Vision (2023–2033), which places digital innovation at the core of its strategies, he said.
Sharkas highlighted Jordan’s significant progress under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II and the support of HRH Crown Prince Al Hussein in advancing digital payments infrastructure, enacting modern legislation such as the Virtual Assets Law, and enhancing financial inclusion in line with global best practices.
He pointed out that the instant payment system achieved a major leap in 2024, with 2.6 million e-wallet users and 1.7 million linked bank account users, executing more than 140 million transactions worth JD24.4 billion within a year.
Digital payments now account for 84 percent of all financial transactions in the Kingdom, supported by internet and mobile banking usage of 4.67 million, the expansion of QR-enabled points of sale exceeding 93,000, more than 2,400 ATMs, and 8 million payment cards in circulation, he added.
For his part, Arab Monetary Fund Chairman Fahad Alturki stressed that the fintech festival serves as a strategic platform for learning, cooperation, and innovation, contributing to advanced digital infrastructure and regulatory frameworks, while supporting member states, capacity-building, and central banks in promoting innovation and financial inclusion.
German Deputy Ambassador to Jordan Guido Kimmerling said Jordan is taking important steps to become a regional fintech hub and that Germany is proud to support this journey through practical partnerships and joint initiatives.
The two-day festival features high-level dialogues on digital payments, virtual assets, open finance, artificial intelligence in financial services, cybersecurity, and consumer protection. On its sidelines, the Arab Monetary Fund’s Arab Regional Fintech Working Group held its 14th meeting to discuss fintech developments in the region and global trends.
A specialized workshop on virtual assets was also organized by the CBJ and the Arab Monetary Fund with participation from regulators, law enforcement, financial institutions, and banks, reviewing international experiences and the opportunities and challenges of implementing regulatory frameworks.
//Petra// AO
