On April 16, 2010, the International Forum “M-com / E-com and banking. Russia & CIS 2010” was held at the International information-exhibition center “InfoProstranstvo” (Moscow). The main theme of this Forum was the potential of productive cooperation between banks and payment systems, telecom operators, Internet shops, retail networks, vendors, integrators and the existing market operators in order to create effective payment infrastructure for mobile/electronic commerce.
The Forum was organized and held by PLUS Journal. MegaFon, Visa Inc., MobiPlaS Company (Platfon payment service system), HandyBank and CFT Group were the Gold sponsors of the Forum; Payment Technologies Company (Check-In-Phone solution) and ARCOM group were the Official sponsors. Among the Forum’s partners there were such companies as PayOnline System, Terminal Technologies, Ingenico, BPC Group, Misys, SMS Traffic and Best Quality Design. BSC Company (brand GEMINI) was the Special sponsor of the Forum.
The key topic of the Forum was the present and the future of mobile and electronic services, their role and place in the economy and the society of the 21st century. Participants reviewed the situation in the market, defined existing obstacles to innovation projects and possible ways to overcome them.
Over 300 delegates took part in the Forum. Among them there were leading experts in mobile and electronic commerce, regulators of CIS banking sector, representatives of the largest banks of Russia and CIS, payment systems, mobile and fixed line operators, as well as key Internet shops and retail networks, transport companies, money transfer systems, relevant ministries and departments, vendors of solutions and technologies, suppliers of related products and services, integrators, content providers, insurance companies and other organizations.
During his welcoming speech Alexander Grizov, Publisher of PLUS Journal, emphasized the importance of the Forum’s topic.
Nav Bains, GSMA Senior Projects Director for NFC and PAY-BUY MOBILE (M–payment technology) initiatives, made the first presentation. He described the former and current trends of mobile and electronic services development, explained what an increasingly important role they play today in the development of economy and society in general and of commerce and banking in particular. He demonstrated the advantages of m–commerce/e–commerce, its availability, convenience, benefits for all market players. “It is a huge pie, do not miss a piece which could be rightfully yours” this was his advice to the event attendees.
Richard Harris, Visa International Regional Head of E-Commerce CEMEA, gave the detailed review of E-com development in Russia and CIS. Using the payment system activities as an example he explained real perspectives for development of this segment of the market in CIS and presented new Visa products and perspectives in Russia. Mr. Harris paid special attention to safety and fraud protection in electronic and mobile commerce.
Karl Summanen, Vice President of VTB Bank, presented his view on formation and evolution of remote banking service system and its future development, using one bank as an example. He keynoted the need for consolidation of all the banks’ efforts within the limits of the newly created National payment system.
Technical aspects of tools and technologies for mobile and electronic commerce and their further development were covered by Igor Goldovskiy, CEO of Payment Technologies Company. He particularly noted that new mobile applications development, their usage as САT terminals and introduction of other technological novelties will extend the number of market players considerably, and increase the size of the services market and the money turnover.
Sergei Ambrosimov, Head of Special Corporate Projects Department of Megafone Moscow office, gave a speech about the evolution of m–com services the company has been providing since 2003. Convenience, availability, simplicity and safety of mobile payments were the key–note of his speech, and also he pointed out the necessity of individual approach to every partner and client.
Vadim Kuznetsov, Director of Settlement Regulation Department of Bank of Russia, took the floor representing the Bank. The main part of his speech was devoted to the legislation of retail payment service activities, legal and economic improvements of the National payment system, and foundation of the National card payment system. Vadim Kuznetsov emphasized that the relationships of all parties should be based on market principles, and that the principle of transparency and participation of the voluntary basis should be mandatory. The speaker also paid special attention to the issue of glaring financial illiteracy of the nation.
Oleg Veremeychik, representative of the National bank of Belarus, shared a worthwhile experience of formation of common information area and methodological and legislative base of electronic and mobile commerce.
Vladimir Golobokov, Head of Registers, Certificates, Keys, Signatures Department of State Services Administration of the Federal Agency for Information Technology, suggested to set up a workgroup of representatives of all the parties concerned to establish an organization, which purpose would be to work out proposals for the Russian Government on legislative regulation for the mobile communication market. He believes that deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, representatives of the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communication and the Ministry of Finance of Russia should be involved in that process. Vladimir Golobokov believes that the market can be formed by motivated players, but not by spiritless officials. The suggestion was approved by all the attendees.
A special attention was paid to the safety of electronic and mobile commerce. Aleksey Golenischev, Head of Payment Systems Department of Alfa Bank, rather vividly illustrated the gravity of that challenge by the example of the air transport services. He told about possible risks and how to prevent the fraud operations in those segments.
Participants of the Forum showed sincere interest to the current state, problems and perspectives of E-cash in Russia described by Victor Dostov, Chairman of Russian Electronic Money Association, and Boris Kim, Chairman of the Committee on Payment Systems and Banking Instruments of NAUET (National Association of Electronic Commerce Members).
In total at the Forum 19 speakers made their presentations, each one was obviously useful for the audience. And each participant had a chance to ask the speakers any questions.
The organizers also held round tables “E-com market. Present and Future” and “E-cash. Actuality and Perspectives”.
Besides all the participants of the Forum visited the exhibition, where leading global and Russian companies such as Visa Inc., HandySolutions, Megafone, CFT Group, MobiPlaS, Payment Technologies, АRCОМ, PayOnline System, Terminal Technologies, Ingenico, BPC Group, Misys Solutions for Banking, SMS Traffic and Best Quality Design demonstrated technological and business solutions for electronic and mobile commerce and remote banking service.
More detailed information on the results of the Forum “M–com / E–com and banking. Russia & CIS 2010” you can find in the coming issue of PLUS Journal.
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