BPCC helps Poland prepare for cashless revolution
(Date: 2010-05-05)
An all-in-one tool that can serve as ID card, public transport ticket, library card, cashless payment instrument and mobile phone – this was the vision of the future of payment presented by speakers at the BPCC’s 7th Annual conference in Warsaw yesterday.
Opened by Poland’s deputy premier, Waldemar Pawlak, who is also the minister of the economy, the event attracted delegates from a broad cross-section of industrial and commercial sectors.
Martin Oxley, chief executive officer of the BPCC said “the event was an excellent example of networking business opportunity. Its theme – The Payment Revolution – brought together delegates from the financial, telecoms, IT, retail, supply chain, public transport and security sectors to discuss the key challenges in moving towards cashless payment systems. A key focus is the leadership role which government needs to play in creating the right legislative framework to create the optimal environment in which new payment technologies can take off.”
“Many thought-provoking questions were posed – and answers given. Is a payment chip an extension to a mobile phone in which it is placed, or is the mobile phone an extension to a payment chip around which it goes? Is there a legal difference between online banking and mobile banking? Will banks become mobile phone operators? Will mobile phone operators start offering financial services?”
Speakers from Deloitte looked at global trends, and the payment revolution’s drivers and barriers, lawyers from Wardyński & Partners considered the legal framework in which the revolution would take place, mobile operator Polkomtel outlined the future role that mobile phones will play as payment tools. Bank Zachodni WBK presented the banking sector’s perspective. Case studies from White Eagle and Warsaw’s public transport authority showed how making cross-border remittances and ticketing will become cheaper and easier. A final panel discussion pulled together a synthesis of the day’s deliberations, concluding that determining and adopting a single standard that will be accepted by mobile operators, banks and merchants will be a bigger obstacle to overcome than the intricacies of the legal environment. Deputy premier Pawlak, who stayed throughout the morning session, has asked the BPCC to bring together a group of expert speakers to the Polish parliament to address deputies about the legislative issues that face Poland as it prepares its economy for the payment revolution.
“It is clear that Mr Pawlak is taking this issue extremely seriously; the Chamber will be delighted to assemble an expert panel to talk to the legislators,” said Martin Oxley.
For press further information:
Wioletta Rodak-Slabuszewska, British Polish Chamber of Commerce,
tel: +48 (0)22 320 01 18
e-mail: wioletta.rodak@bpcc.org.pl
British-Polish Chamber of Commerce (BPCC)
Established in 1992 the BPCC has grown to become Poland’s leading international voice of business. It is a not for profit membership comprising 500 member companies which represent 25% of the total foreign direct investment in Poland since 1990. The BPCC’s mission is to promote international business, cultural relations and leadership in sustainable business. The BPCC is a recognized public voice on British Polish bilateral relations working closely with business and government to create a better business environment. A key goal of the organization is to promote corporate social responsibility and sustainable economic development.