SWIFT representative Cem Soydemir: Tbilisi Financial Summit will attract even more attention in coming years

“It can be said that the Tbilisi Financial Summit is a very timely and well-organised event, with both speakers and the audience fully engaged,” 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.

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

He also discussed the topics and issues addressed during the summit’s discussions, including financial technology.

“Today, there are several inevitable global trends affecting Georgia and the wider region. In this regard, I would highlight stablecoins and digital assets, which are shaping financial technology and the banking industry.

“We have seen that traditional and emerging infrastructures can interact with one another, and in the near future, we will see both working together for the benefit of customers to enable instant, seamless domestic and cross-border payments,” Soydemir said.

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

The discussion focused on the development of cross-border payments, the interoperability of financial infrastructure and the strengthening of regional financial ties.

Panel participants, who have significant international experience in developing cross-border payments and connecting payment infrastructures, shared their experiences and perspectives based on practices in different countries, discussing opportunities and challenges in developing fast, secure and efficient payment systems.

This year, the Tbilisi Financial Summit hosted around 1,000 participants from approximately 60 countries.