On Tuesday the 19^th of September a fintech event took place in the residence of the Ambassador of Belgium in Madrid. This informative networking event targeted to innovative Spanish companies focused on technological solutions for the finance sector.

During these conferences, organized by hub.brussels, responsible for accompanying foreign businesses that wish to settle in Brussels, and in collaboration with the Official Chamber of Commerce of Spain in Belgium and Luxembourg, AEFI , MAD FinTech, Belgium Fintech and Madrid Network, these Spanish companies were offered information about the opportunities of establishment in the Region of Brussels for Spanish businesses in the tech sector focused on the finance industry.

The event opened with the words of the Ambassador of Belgium in Spain, Gerard Cockx. During the first presentations, Sara Sánchez, commercial delegate in the Chamber, presented the advantages of internationalization for enterprises in the fintech sector in Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as the commercial services that the Chamber offers in both markets for the businesses participating in the event. During the event there also were presentations by Alessandra Giuon, General manager of Fintech Belgium, Salvador Molina, president ECOFIN & MAD FinTech, and Arturo González Mac Dowell, president of AEFI.

Afterward, Ariane Leonard, Economic and Commercial Counsellor in hub.brussels, introduced the three panels of the debate. The first of them, made up by François Derbaix, co-founder and CEO of INDEXA CAPITAL, Arturo González, president of AEFI and Michela Ritondo, International Tax Expert in the Belgian Federal Public Service Finance, focused on tax and regulatory challenges for Spanish fintech startups that are looking to expand to Belgium and vice versa. The second, composed of Alfonso Ayuso, CEO of Minos Global and AEFI Board spokesperson, Badr Boussabat, founder and president of AI TOGETHER and Eduardo Marin, fintech expert at Fourthline, discussed emerging technologies in the financial sector, such as artificial intelligence. The third of them focused on the topic is ESG or the criteria that fintech companies and investors look for to generate a portfolio that demonstrates its commitment to the environment, society and responsible management of its assets. Rodrigo García de la Cruz, Vice President of the Spanish FinTech and InsurTech Association and CEO of Finnovating, Alessandra Guion, Managing Director at FinTech Belgium and José Luis Moreno, Vice President of Mad FinTech and Director at EY, participated as panelists.

The event was closed by the Secretary of State Ans Persoons, who invited all attendees to participate afterwards in a networking cocktail in the gardens of the Ambassador’s Residence.