Spotlight MEA: African Digital Transformation with Axian Group

Spotlight MEA: African Digital Transformation with Axian Group

Hassanein and his brother Amin are the third generation of entrepreneurs in the Hiridjee family. After graduating from the École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris (ESCP Europe) in 1997, Hassanein returned to Madagascar—his homeland—and gradually began taking the reins of the family’s half-century-old business. In 2015, this same business became the Axian Group, and refocused on becoming an African champion in the telecoms, energy, financial services, innovation & fintech and real estate markets not just in Madagascar, but across all of Africa. The group now operates in key sectors of industry and actively contributes to sustainable growth and innovation in several countries across the continent. Hassanein believes that overcoming the many challenges of development requires ethical, inclusive and sustainable economic growth that creates positive impact for the greatest number. This is even more important in Axian´s environment because today, 60% of Africa’s population still has no access to electricity and 90% have no access to basic finance and banking services. For our global audience, can you explain what the digital and fintech landscape across the globe currently looks like Fintech represents the latest, unprecedented intersection between the once-separate worlds of finance and technology, where the latter is helping make access