In this episode of Visa Spotlights, we explore how financial inclusion is evolving as we move further into 2026. Host Dan Baxter, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (CEMEA), sits down with Joanne Kubba, Visa’s SVP & Head of Government Affairs for CEMEA, to discuss how policy, technology, and public‑private partnerships are working together to expand access to the financial system.
Financial inclusion and digital transformation are no longer separate conversations but twin pillars of economic progress and stability. The focus has shifted from why inclusion matters to how to scale it in practice, through aligned regulatory frameworks, modern infrastructure, and closer collaboration between governments and the private sector.
Joanne unpacks what it takes to move from high-level principles to real-world impact — from transforming remittances with stablecoins and empowering MSMEs with AI, to building predictable, aligned regulatory environments that enable innovation while keeping trust and consumer protection at the core.
