Coming soonThe first annual conference in the New Administrative Capital, Cairowhere continents meet

International non-governmental non-profit organisation

The technology behind the world's markets needs a neutral home.

GAFITO is an international, non-governmental, non-profit organisation headquartered in Cairo. It brings depositories, exchanges, regulators and technology providers together to build safer, faster and better-connected financial market infrastructure.

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InternationalGlobal scope, headquartered in Cairo
Non-governmentalIndependent and neutral
Non-profitNo profits, no distributed returns

Depositories across the Arab region and Africa, market institutions and technology hubs worldwide, with Cairo as their meeting point. Drag to rotate.

Built for Central securities depositories Stock exchanges Clearing houses Central banks Regulators Technology providers

International. Non-governmental. Non-profit.

The Global Alliance for Financial Infrastructure Technology is an independent, international, non-governmental, non-profit organisation headquartered in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt, with an international scope of work.

It does not seek profit or distribute returns, takes no part in political or partisan activity, and holds itself to institutional neutrality, transparency and independence in everything it does. It is funded by member subscriptions, conference and event revenue, and grants and sponsorships within its permitted funding sources, with no conditions that affect its neutrality or programmes.

Our mission

To strengthen the efficiency, resilience and integrity of financial market infrastructure worldwide, by connecting market institutions with technology providers, encouraging secure innovation, building capacity and sharing knowledge.

Our vision

A trusted, neutral global organisation that helps shape the future of market infrastructure technology and enables modern, inclusive and interconnected financial markets everywhere.

From trade to settlement

The central depository sits at the heart of the chain: it clears, holds investors’ accounts and guarantees delivery versus payment.

Neutrality

The organisation is never used for promotion or for exclusive commercial advantage.

Independence

Programmes and partnerships follow our mission, free of outside influence.

Integrity

Conflicts of interest are disclosed and handled under approved policies.

Accountability

Resources serve our objectives alone, with independently audited accounts every year.

What we set out to do

Eight objectives written into our founding charter.

Modern, secure technology

Support the development and adoption of secure, resilient and interoperable technology in market infrastructure.

Cooperation across the sector

Help market institutions, public authorities and technology providers exchange information and expertise.

Independent advisory

Offer independent advisory and technical services to capital-market and infrastructure development projects.

Emerging markets

Help emerging and developing markets, and public bodies, design, build and modernise resilient infrastructure.

Capacity building

Advance professional development and knowledge transfer through research, training and specialised forums.

Innovation that meets standards

Encourage innovation that fits international standards, regulatory requirements and global best practice.

Neutral dialogue

Provide neutral forums for dialogue on the technological and regulatory shifts shaping capital markets.

Regional integration

Support regional and international cooperation that deepens market integration, financial stability and operational resilience.

Themes on our agenda

The shifts reshaping market infrastructure and post-trade services, and where our work begins.

Infrastructure that cannot stop

Cyber resilience, secure cloud and business continuity for the systems every market depends on.

sese.023 sample message

A common language for markets

A settlement instruction written in ISO 20022, the messaging standard infrastructures worldwide are moving to.

Tokenisation and distributed ledgers

How tokenised securities and DLT can work alongside, and upgrade, today's depositories and settlement systems.

ISO 20022 and interoperability

Shared messaging standards that let infrastructures across borders speak the same language.

Cyber and operational resilience

Protecting systems markets cannot afford to lose, and recovering fast when incidents happen.

Shorter settlement cycles

Preparing markets for T+1 and beyond, and the operational change it demands.

Cloud for market infrastructure

Adopting cloud safely within regulatory, data-sovereignty and continuity requirements.

AI and data

Responsible use of AI in market surveillance, risk management and operations.

Digital identity and onboarding

Trusted digital identity for investors and issuers, cutting friction without cutting control.

RegTech and SupTech

Tools that help institutions comply and help supervisors see more, sooner.

The region's market infrastructure, read closely

Before bringing the market together, we mapped it: every central securities depository across the Arab region and Africa, classified by how it is owned, from official published sources.

central securities depositories on the map

countries, plus a regional depository serving eight West African states

ownership models, each with its own way of deciding and buying

depositories announcing new or upgraded core systems since 2022

By ownership model

A modernisation wave

At least six depositories in the region have announced new or upgraded core systems since 2022.

From direct to hybrid holding

Markets built on an account for every investor are adding omnibus accounts to welcome foreign investors, which calls for systems that support both models.

Ownership shapes the decision

Who owns a depository determines who decides on technology and how it is procured, from group-wide programmes to public tenders.

Sources: official published material only, including disclosures under the CPMI-IOSCO Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures, annual reports and the institutions' own announcements. Last updated: November 2026.

The detailed map is for members

The full edition, institution by institution with ownership, holding model, core systems and sources, is updated annually and shared with GAFITO members.

Ask about membership

Market classification

Together toward upgrade

Market infrastructure is part of how global index providers classify markets, and we bring together those who build it. The map shows the world's emerging and frontier markets under the latest FTSE Russell classification.

GAFITO headquarters
Advanced Emerging
Secondary Emerging
Frontier
On the watch list for upgrade

Where infrastructure counts in assessing market accessibility

Investor registration and account set-up
Clearing and settlement
Custody
Registry and depository

Sources: FTSE Russell equity country classification, October 2026. Infrastructure criteria from the MSCI 2026 Global Market Accessibility Review. Developed markets are not marked.

Annual conference

Where the region's markets meet the world's technology

GAFITO's annual conference in Egypt's New Administrative Capital. Egypt sits at the heart of the world, where Africa, Asia and Europe meet, and its new capital is a smart city built on integrated digital infrastructure: the natural place for the Arab region's and Africa's capital markets to meet technology companies from around the world.

VenueNew Administrative Capital, Cairo

DateTo be announced soon

One marketplace for market needs

Technology companies present their solutions to every side of the market at once, with a focus on emerging markets.

Every side of the market in one room

Depositories, exchanges and banks, regulators as observers, and technology companies from around the world.

Meetings organised by market segment

Meetings follow ownership and holding models, so each company meets the institutions that actually need its solutions.

Membership

Choose the category that describes you to see what membership involves.

Every member commits to

The Bylaws, the Code of Conduct and the principles of neutrality
Disclosing any potential conflict of interest
Confidentiality and data-protection rules

Apply in this category

Fees are indicative until the Bylaws are adopted and are collected at the start of each financial year.

Where those who need support meet those who can provide it

A neutral setting for technical and technology support between members.

Who needs support

Institutions upgrading their systems or solving technical challenges, especially in emerging markets.

The organisation

A neutral setting: equal opportunity for all and disclosure of any conflict of interest.

Who can provide it

Technology companies, experts and peer institutions.

The parties agree between themselves on the scope and terms of support, paid or not. The organisation is not a party to these agreements.

Working with governments and central banks

GAFITO can work with governments, regulators, central banks and public bodies. Public authorities may join as observers, attending meetings, forums and advisory committees without a vote.

Cooperation never implies political endorsement or outside influence. Every engagement is documented, reviewed by the Board and summarised in our annual report.

Independent advisory and technical services

Evidence-based advice aligned with international best practice.

Technical assistance

Designing, modernising and strengthening market infrastructure.

Research and capacity building

Programmes shaped around the needs of the public sector.

Support for emerging markets

Knowledge transfer and best-practice exchange between governments, central banks and market participants.

How GAFITO is governed

Authority flows from the members, through an elected Board, to the Secretariat and its committees.

All voting members

General Assembly

The highest authority. Sets strategic direction, elects the Board, approves annual reports and audited accounts, and adopts or amends the Bylaws.

Five to nine directors

Board of Directors

Balances institutional and technology expertise. Oversees strategy, approves policies and the budget, and appoints the executive management.

Secretary General

Secretariat

Runs day-to-day operations, carries out Board decisions and manages relations with members and partners.

Standing or ad hoc

Committees

Technology and InnovationGovernance and EthicsMembership and PartnershipsConferences and Events

Permanent statutory office

Founder & President

The legal representative of GAFITO before governments, regulators and courts. Signs on its behalf, safeguards its mission, principles and Bylaws, and holds a permanent seat on the Board, which is led by its own elected Chair.

Leadership and Founding Board

Founders who bring together market infrastructure, technology, legal, media and economic expertise.

Leadership

Founding Board

Abdeen Abuarida

Member of the Founding Board

Engineer and entrepreneur. Chairman of Easy Cash and Cash Ashal e-payment companies, and Chairman and CEO of Abu Arida Group. His investments span fintech, real estate and mining in Egypt, Tanzania, Qatar and Sudan, with digital transformation at their core. Board Member of Al Ahly Sporting Club – Sports Facilities; member of the Egyptian-African Council for Projects and Development, the Egyptian Businessmen's Association and the German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

LinkedIn profile

Dina Abdel Fattah

Member of the Founding Board

Economic analyst and media figure with more than thirty years in the industry. Founder and CEO of EXLNT Communications and of Amwal Al Ghad magazine, where she is Editor-in-Chief; founder and Chair of the Top50 Women Forum; Non-Executive Board Member of United Media Services; Secretary General of the Egypt Summit for the Best. Has hosted economic programmes on Modern, Al Mehwar, Al Tahrir and Al Nahar TV. BA in Mass Communication, Cairo University; MA in Journalism, the American University in Cairo.

LinkedIn profile

Riham Gamal Khedr

Secretary General

Former Secretary General of the Africa & Middle East Depositories Association (AMEDA) and former Board Member of the World Forum of CSDs (WFC). Nearly twenty-eight years at Misr for Central Clearing, Depository and Registry (MCDR) as Foreign Relations and Foreign Operations Manager, responsible for its international correspondence and its membership of international organisations. Postgraduate studies in financial markets, Illinois State University.

LinkedIn profile [email protected]

Wael Elsersawi

Founder & President

Lawyer; Founding and Managing Partner of Elsersawi Law Office. Former Assistant Secretary General for Legal Affairs and Government Relations and legal representative of AMEDA, where he designed the legal strategy that secured its international NGO licence from Egypt's Ministry of Social Solidarity. Extensive capital-markets experience from sixteen years at Misr for Central Clearing, Depository and Registry (MCDR); former legal advisor to TotalEnergies Egypt.

LinkedIn profile [email protected]

Nermine Abdel Fattah

Member of the Founding Board

Co-founder, Vice President and Managing Director of EXLNT Communications, with more than twenty years in public relations, media relations, crisis management and public affairs. Co-founder and Managing Director of Amwal Al Ghad magazine and co-founder of the Top50 Women Forum; chaired the North Africa Media Summit in Cairo. IFC-certified corporate director and GRI professional. BSc in Physics and MSc in Electronics, with a minor in computer science, from the American University in Cairo.

LinkedIn profile

Board members listed alphabetically

Talk to the founding team

Tell us who you are and how you would like to take part in GAFITO's founding phase.

HeadquartersCairo, Arab Republic of Egypt

Address6D, Street 198, Degla, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt

Email[email protected]