Mr Damane will discuss the initiatives and roadmap of the Office of Digital Advantage (ODA), which is the portfolio management unit for the implementation of the Department of Science and Innovation's ICT Research, Development and Innovation Roadmap for 2013-2023. Since 2013 the government Department of Science and Innovation has invested in ICT Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) initiatives as part of the Cabinet-approved Roadmap. A number of initiatives have been explored which facilitated joint investment in human capital development at Masters and PhD levels, and collaboration on RDI with industry and international partners through programs such as the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAIR), Mobile Laboratory of Southern Africa, Data Science for Impact and Decision Enhancement (DSIDE) and South African National Blockchain Alliance (SANBA). Though partnerships government seeks to achieve scale and impact. Mr Damane's presentation will discuss various co-investment instruments and recent examples of how the initiatives have benefited government, industry and South African community at large.

Developing a Framework for the Implementation of a Multi-Sectoral Strategy as Part of President Cyril Ramaphosa's Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Mr. Dagada will be covering much of what the Presidential Commission is planning with regards to the digital currency and cryptocurrency space. He will also be delving into the insights, opportunities as well as partnerships with government for cryptocurrency and blockchain companies and start-ups. He will also be speaking about the new Capital Risk Fund which is aimed at Fourth Industrial Revolution projects.

Consumers today care more about the purpose and integrity of a brand than the products they deliver. To the modern consumer, the ability to obtain relevant context about the sustainable sourcing of ingredients in products they view in-store is becoming a critical requirement. The combination of blockchain with other exponential technologies (such as mixed reality, AI and analytics) create new possibilities for consumer industries to ensure they deliver with full transparency, offering the necessary assurance required by the modern consumer. In this session, we introduce global use cases that SAP is delivering within food, beverage and pharmaceuticals industries, as well as a brief glimpse of how blockchain is disrupting traditional business processes in the supply chain.

Rob will discuss how blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies are currently taxed in South Africa. In the wake of the 2020 Budget Speech, he will also discuss the developments he had hoped to see in this regard, and his thoughts on the taxation of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies going forward.

Peter will share the journey that Adhara has been on over the last few years, participating in and building these new platforms. He will talk around some of the very real and very imminent opportunities that lie ahead of us.

What does this mean for South Africa? Is Libra likely to gain market adoption in South Africa? Will Libra be able to solve the long-standing agenda of greater financial inclusion in South Africa? What are the risks and opportunities for banks and FinTechs in South Africa?

As the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement enters its implementation phase, it critical for central banks to engage and provide modern payment infrastructure. Improving the physical infrastructure and regulatory frameworks are core requirement for this agreement to unlock the said potential. Additionally, new digital infrastructure is also required, specifically for the payment systems that will facilitate payments and financing of those trades. Moreover, MSMEs are poised to have access to new markets, and using the USD as settlement currency is not an option. Coming with alternative liquidity pooling schemes are sustainable for the region, is also another key benefit of Digital Currency-Based Payment Systems. We see the need for A Modern Central Bank Platform built on blockchain with digital currency technology. Coupled with Data Analytic and AI, such new payment platforms can support real-time final settlement, faster remittance to the unbanked MSMEs and trusted governance for the regulators.

Moderator: Monica Singer What are the concerns that regulators have with blockchain, digital assets and AI? How are countries currently regulating these technologies? How are regulators considering regulating them in the future? What are the potential risks of an unregulated market? What are the benefits of Central Bank digital currencies for regional payment systems? What are the opportunities blockchain, AI and digital assets offer to countries?