Panel Discussion : Advancing a Unified Digital Payment Ecosystem in the East African Community

How can the East African Community build a unified, secure, and interoperable digital payment ecosystem? This panel discussion from EACON 2025 brings together policymakers, central bank representatives, financial institutions, academia, and industry experts to explore the future of digital payments and regional financial integration in East Africa. The discussion examines key priorities including: Digital payment interoperability, Cross-border payment systems, Regulatory harmonization, Cybersecurity and digital trust, FinTech innovation, Public–private–academic partnerships, Financial inclusion and regional economic integration The insights shared during this session contributed to the development of the EACON 2025 Policy Brief, providing practical recommendations to strengthen digital finance across the East African Community.