Arab Financial Services (AFS), a digital payment solutions provider in the Middle East and Africa, recently hosted a high-level economic delegation from Brussels and discussed potential partnerships within the fintech and financial services sector, highlighting a significant move towards international collaboration in this rapidly evolving industry.
The Belgian delegation, headed by Ghislain Breydel, Area Manager for Asia & North Africa at hub.brussels, and Mohamed Hajjam, Area Manager Inward Investment for MENA at hub.brussels, brought together representatives from leading companies across various Belgian regions.
The initiative, orchestrated by Adil El Madani, Deputy Head of Mission at the Belgian Embassy, and Laurence Heyblom, the Belgian Economic & Commercial Counsellor for Kuwait, Qatar & Bahrain, aimed to open avenues for technological and financial exchanges.
Samer Soliman, CEO of AFS, expressed enthusiasm about the potential Belgian-Bahraini collaboration, emphasizing AFS’s role in spearheading digital payments innovation and its impact on enhancing the local Bahrain market.
He noted that such partnerships would elevate Bahrain’s stature as a key hub in the global payments ecosystem and promote a greater understanding of its dynamic market.
Regulated by The Central Bank of Bahrain and majority-owned by Bank ABC, AFS has been at the forefront of offering a wide array of cutting-edge digital payment services and solutions, ranging from card processing to fintech and value-added services.
The company’s commitment to innovation and high-quality solutions has made it a trusted name in the industry, with a significant presence across Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, and the UAE.
Established in 1984, AFS has grown to become the region’s leading digital payment solutions provider and fintech enabler. The company’s diverse ownership of 37 banks and financial institutions and its broad client base in over 20 countries underscore its pivotal role in shaping the payment landscape in the Middle East and Africa.
Analysts said the recent meeting between AFS and the Belgian delegation marks a milestone in international fintech partnerships, potentially leading to groundbreaking developments in the digital payment solutions sphere, both regionally and globally.