Mali: Launch of the first Savings and Investment Fair under the sign of financial inclusion

AA / Bamako / Amarana Maiga

The first edition of the Mali Savings and Investment Fair (SEIM) was officially launched on Friday in Bamako, in the room of the Bamako International Conference Center (CICB), in the presence of institutional, financial and economic players, around the theme of education and financial inclusion.

Speaking on this occasion, the president of the organizing committee, Mohamed Lamine Ousmane, stressed that this show aims to respond to current economic challenges, marked in particular by instability, inflation and social uncertainties.

“In a world in constant transformation, managing your finances and ensuring your financial security have become essential priorities,” he declared, emphasizing the need to promote a culture of savings and investment in Mali.

According to him, the SEIM is positioned as a framework for convergence between the “dormant savings” of populations and investment opportunities likely to boost the national economy. He also highlighted the importance of supporting citizens in adopting good financial practices in order to build a stable and sustainable economic future.

The show aims in particular to raise participants’ awareness of personal finance management, to strengthen access to formal and digital financial services, and to encourage exchanges between users and financial institutions.

For two days, expert panels, masterclasses and presentations of innovative solutions will punctuate the activities, with the aim of strengthening public confidence in financial institutions and encouraging financial inclusion.

For his part, Bakary Togo, technical advisor to the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Vocational Training, representing Minister Oumou Sall Seck, welcomed an initiative “relevant in the current context of Mali”.

He recalled that financial inclusion constitutes an essential lever for stimulating entrepreneurship, supporting productive investments and promoting job creation, particularly for young people and women.

“Financial education is a fundamental pillar to enable citizens to better manage their resources and seize investment opportunities,” he said, while highlighting the persistent challenges linked to access to information and trust in financial institutions.

The ministry representative also reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening reforms aimed at improving access to financing, promoting sustainable employment and supporting entrepreneurship.

The Mali Savings and Investment Fair aims to be a strategic platform to encourage partnerships between the State, the private sector and technical and financial partners, with a view to promoting inclusive and sustainable growth.