Queen Maxima at the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2015

As the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, Queen Maxima yesterday afternoon, March 2, gave a speech at the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2015 in Barcelona, Spain.

At her arrival at Fira Gran Via where the congress took place, the Queen was welcomed by King Felipe of Spain. The King was there to preside over the inauguration of the congress. Queen Maxima spoke during the session about “Connecting Billions Across the Developing World.”

In her speech, the Queen talked about the importance of mobile banking for improving access to safe and affordable financial services, she also added that worldwide more than two billion of people “are still excluded from the formal financial system.” The Queen stressed that “financial inclusion is vital for our global future”, and also she said that “the mobile industry holds the key to achieving the dream of universal financial inclusion”. Queen Maxima also said that “Financial inclusion is a means to bring people permanently out of poverty.”

The Mobile World Congress is organized by GSM Association, an association of mobile operators. At the Congress are present CEOs of telecom companies, business leaders, Ministers of Telecomunications and journalists.

The Congress started yesterday and will last until March 5.

Filed under Spain, The Netherlands
Tagged Conference, Felipe VI of Spain, Inclusive Finance, Patronage, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, Technology.