Global Policy Forum Highlights Financial Inclusion as Key Driver of Growth

Global Policy Forum Highlights Financial Inclusion as Key Driver of Growth. The Bank of Namibia, in collaboration with the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), recently hosted the 2025 Global Policy Forum (GPF) under the theme “Empowering Society and Enabling Growth.” The gathering brought together international policymakers, regulators, and thought leaders to exchange knowledge and strengthen strategies for advancing inclusive finance.

The forum served as a platform for discussing how financial inclusion can act as a catalyst for sustainable economic development. Participants explored best practices, challenges, and policy frameworks that enable wider access to financial services while ensuring that these services empower individuals to participate fully in their economies.

Delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony, Namibia’s Minister of Finance, Hon. Ericah Shafudah, stressed that financial inclusion extends far beyond access to a bank account. She emphasized that true inclusion grants citizens the agency to save, invest, build resilience, and actively contribute to national development. According to the Minister, ensuring that people have access to diverse and effective financial tools is central to reducing inequality and driving broad-based economic progress.

The Global Policy Forum, a flagship initiative of AFI, has become one of the most influential platforms for shaping financial inclusion policies worldwide. By convening regulators and experts from different regions, the event encourages cross-learning and collaboration, with the aim of delivering solutions tailored to local realities while aligning with global development priorities.

The 2025 edition of the Forum reaffirmed the role of inclusive finance as a driver of growth, resilience, and empowerment. With continued cooperation between institutions and governments, the discussions are expected to influence future reforms that leave no one behind in the financial system.