SWIFT representative: Tbilisi Financial Summit set to attract greater attention in coming years

The Tbilisi Financial Summit is a timely, well-organised event that actively engages both speakers and attendees, said Cem Soydemir, SWIFT’s Head of Payments Market Development for the Middle East, North Africa, Türkiye, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, on Thursday.

“I am confident that the Tbilisi Financial Summit will attract even greater attention in the coming years if it continues”, the SWIFT representative noted.

Soydemir also discussed key topics addressed at the summit, including developments in financial technology.

“Several inevitable global trends are shaping Georgia and the wider region. In this regard, I would highlight stablecoins and digital assets, which are transforming financial technology and the banking industry. We have seen that both traditional and emerging infrastructures can interact with one another. In the near future, we will see them working together for the benefit of customers, enabling instant and seamless domestic and cross-border payments”, Soydemir said.

During the summit, Soydemir joined Ekaterine Galdava, Vice President of the National Bank of Georgia, in a panel discussion titled “Developing Regional Connectivity Infrastructure”.

The discussion focused on advancing cross-border payments, ensuring the interoperability of financial infrastructure and strengthening regional financial links.

Drawing on their extensive international experience in cross-border payments and the interconnection of payment infrastructures, the panellists shared insights into the opportunities and challenges involved in developing fast, secure and efficient payment systems, drawing on practices from various countries.

This year’s Tbilisi Financial Summit brought together around 1,000 participants from nearly 60 countries.