BTCA-ORF Digital Payments

Digital Payments: Inclusion, Growth and Opportunities October 1 Taj Mahal Hotel, Man Singh Road, New Delhi Overview of High-Level Conference

The Government of India has identified digital gateways that hold transformative potential for the country. The Digital India initiative, along with the JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) Trinity, and Less-Cash India, are today the centre-piece of India’s development and inclusive growth efforts. These policy measures stem from an expectation that India’s digital future will be accessible, inclusive and dynamic. Over a billion mobile connections, quarter of a billion bank accounts (Jan-Dhan) and a digital identity database (Aadhaar) of a billion strong are catalysing this strong policy push. It is expected that India’s digital payment systems can ensure that millions of previously excluded citizens are brought within formal financial platforms. The digital economy and its potential is shaping the ambitions and directions of India’s growing young workforce, given that the future belongs to SMEs, innovators and service sector businesses in the sector. The digital gateways can themselves redefine the delivery of services in the new economy, and India can seek to export this model and services to other emerging markets. The objective of this event is to bring together high-level decision makers, private sector players and civil society in India to debate and deliver solutions to accelerate digital inclusion, digital businesses and digital growth. They will discuss why digital payments are a key driver for financial inclusion and a digital economy, and showcase India’s exciting global leadership in this field. Crucially, participants will discuss the strategic considerations necessary to move away from cash to digital payments. 1





Agenda 09:30 – 10:30: Breakfast and registration 10:30 – 11:00: Inaugural Session Opening Remarks: • Ruth Goodwin-Groen, Managing Director, Better Than Cash Alliance Keynote Speech: • His Excellency Shri Arun Jaitley, Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Government of India Vote of Thanks and Closing Remarks: • Sunjoy Joshi, Director, Observer Research Foundation Moderator: • Ashok Malik, Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation 11:00 – 12:00: PANEL 1: Realizing the Digital Payments Potential of India Representatives from government, regulators and businesses -- including payment gateways and financial institutions -- and the development community will convene to discuss potential opportunities enabled by India’s emerging payments infrastructure. They will also highlight the obstacles that may prevent the development of a digital financial ecosystem, especially those relating to access, and policy measures to overcome these obstacles. Panel Speakers: • Madnesh Kumar Mishra, Joint Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India • Dilip Asbe, COO, National Payments Corporation of India • Roopa Kudva, Managing Director of Omidyar Network India Advisors • Bipin Singh, Founder CEO & Director, MobiKwik • Ajay Shah, Professor, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy Moderator: • Ruth Goodwin-Groen, Managing Director, Better Than Cash Alliance 2





12.00 – 12.20: Keynote Conversation: The Government of India is leading several flagship initiatives to deliver on the government’s vision of moving towards a less-cash economy, which will enable India to reduce leakages, better target beneficiaries of subsidies and accelerate financial inclusion. How is this translating into better delivery of services to citizens and greater savings for the exchequer? Keynote Conversationalists: • Saurabh Garg, Joint Secretary (Investments), Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India • Peeyush Kumar, Joint Secretary, Direct Benefit Transfer Mission, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India Moderator: • Ashok Malik, Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation 12:20 – 13:10: PANEL 2: Digital Federalism – How States Are Leading the Transformation State governments possess the resources and penetrative institutions to digitize financial transactions. Using the open API ecosystem India Stack as an example, this session will showcase how innovative technological architecture have enabled governments at national and state levels to develop services that reduce cost, increase transparency and better serve citizens. In particular, this panel will also examine how best to effectuate Direct Benefit Transfers as well as person-to-government payments. Panel Speakers: • Abhirup Sarkar, Professor, Indian Statistical Institute and Vice-Chair, West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, Bengal • Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, Secretary, Social Welfare, Bihar • Anil Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary, Finance, Gujarat • Sunil Saran, Secretary, Finance Department, Haryana • Om Prakash Bairwa, Director, Economics & Statistics, Rajasthan Moderator: • Puja Mehra, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu 3





13:10 – 13:30: Keynote Keynote Speaker: • Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog 13:30 – 14:00: Lunch 14:00 – 15:00: PANEL 3: Creating the Digital Last Mile The India Stack provides app-based infrastructure to help e-governance initiatives and other services reach the last mile. However, the infrastructure only works if businesses and consumers are willing to avail them. How can the digital ecosystem players be “nudged” to work together in a way that benefits suppliers, merchants and consumers? This panel will explore solutions needed to overcome the challenges to digitize platforms as well as creating multi-stakeholder processes for policy-making. Panel Speakers: • Venkatesh Kini, President, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia • Osama Manzar, Founder & Director, Digital Empowerment Foundation • Abhishek Sinha, Co-Founder & CEO, Eko India Financial Services • Jagannatha Kumar, CEO, Reliance Foundation • Santanu Mukherjee, Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer, Janalakshmi Financial Services Ltd • Pawan Bakshi, India Lead, Financial Services for the Poor, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Moderator: • Ratna Vishwanathan, CEO, Microfinance Institutions Network 15:00 – 15:05: Special Announcement: Launch of Catalyst - Inclusive Cashless Payment Partnership Speaker: • Badal Malick, CEO, Catalyst 4





15:05 – 16:00: Valedictory Session The rapid and innovative deployment of digital infrastructure in India requires contextual solutions tailored for the economy. India is faced with a unique challenge: having to leapfrog developments in financial technologies, without having to compromise on the level of inclusion and access they provide. How can such technologies unveiled be quickly adopted and tailored across Indian market, while retaining the promise of safety and accessibility? Will digital payments become the norm and cash the exception? Join the debate with our panel of experts from India and around the world. Panel Speakers: • Adaish Partap Singh Kairon, Minister, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Food Processing and Information Technology, Punjab • Sanjay Jain, Director, Platforms, EkStep • Ruth Goodwin-Groen, Managing Director, Better Than Cash Alliance Moderator: • Samir Saran, Vice-President, Observer Research Foundation 16:00 onwards: High Tea

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