|
Presentation to MEPs from MAP International |
 |
 |
 |
|
Thursday, 09 April 2009 14:12 |
Nirj Deva MEP, the Conservative Spokesman on the European Parliament’s Development Committee, recently organised a meeting for MEPs and European Commission officials to discuss how the latest biometric technology is being used to facilitate economic growth in the development world.
The main presentation was made by Michael Landau, Chairman of MAP International, a U.S. business that utilises integrated electronic identification and mobile financial technology in order to transform financial services infrastructure in developing countries.
Nirj Deva said: “I warmly congratulate Michael Landau on his company’s innovative and pioneering use of technology in the developing world. In the current economic climate, it is extremely important to be promoting technologies that allow the peoples of the developing world to further their own development, using their own talents and resources, as far as possible.”
Deva continued: “The cost of being poor is extremely expensive. The work of MAP International certainly seems to be a valuable contribution to formalising the economy, and removing the barriers which maintain structures of under-opportunity in the developing world.”
Michael Landau said: “With its biometric platform and the use of mobile devices, MAP can provide access to financial services to the unbanked citizens in rural, remote or under developed areas, bringing these citizens into the formal economy.”
Landau continued: “The model begins with obtaining unique biometric data from applicants. MAP then issues a financial identification card based on that data that connects the card-holder to a host of products and services via access points throughout the country, including ATMs, Point of Sale units, and mobile banking.”
Landau added: “The lack of accessible and effective banking and identity infrastructure hampers economic development at its most basic level in developing countries. We are active at the forefront of transformational work that advances the private sector and high technology to meet today’s global development challenge.”
|
