The Special Advocate encourages private sector innovators to use fintech as a tool for greater financial inclusion and improving financial health in the Netherlands and advanced economies.
Speeches
UNSGSA Queen Máxima ASEAN Women Leaders' Summit Opening Remarks
UNSGSA remarks at the ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit: “Women’s Role in Building a Cohesive, Dynamic, Sustainable, and Inclusive ASEAN Community in a Post COVID-19 World”. Read more
November 12, 2020
UNSGSA Remarks at ID4D Event during World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings
The Special Advocate delivered keynote remarks at the Identification for Development (ID4D) Mission Billion Event at the Virtual World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings. Read more
October 21, 2020
Keynote Remarks at G7 Event on Catalyzing Digital Financial Services for Women Across Africa
The Special Advocate delivered remarks at the G7 Partnership High-Level Event: Catalyzing DFS for Women Across Africa - Supporting Recovery, Resilience and Innovation during COVID-19. Read more
September 23, 2020
Remarks at the Launch of the Ehsaas Financial Inclusion Strategy
"It is also pleasing to see an overall financial inclusion strategy for Ehsaas. The goal of prioritizing banking informal workers, accelerating access to credit, and creating digital platforms to support access to nano-loans are all very important." - UNSGSA Read more
November 27, 2019
Remarks at the Launch of Pakistan’s Micropayment Gateway
The Special Advocate delivered these remarks at the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the State Bank of Pakistan and Karandazz to establish a micropayment gateway. Read more
November 26, 2019
Inclusive Fintech: Our Best Opportunity to Improve Financial Lives
Speech of Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands in her capacity as the Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2019
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is wonderful to be back in Singapore for this ever-growing… Read more
November 13, 2019
Closing the MSME Finance Gap: Opening Remarks at the 5th Global SME Finance Forum
"SME finance has always been one of my priorities since I became the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development already ten years ago. I am supportive of policies and business practices that enable individuals and small businesses to access and use a broad range… Read more
October 7, 2019
The Power of Financial Inclusion for Development
UNSGSA Queen Máxima's opening remarks at the Financial Inclusion for Development: Building on 10 Year of Progress Event at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Read more
September 25, 2019
UNSGSA Opening Remarks at the 26th Egmont Group Plenary
"Going forward, it is essential that we continue to promote AML/CFT regulation and supervision that is proportionate to the risks. I can think of three areas where members of the Egmont Group can foster both financial integrity and financial inclusion." - UNSGSA Read more
July 4, 2019
World Has Extraordinary Opportunity to Unleash the Economic Potential of Women
Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA), delivered remarks at a G20 Leaders’ Summit Side Event on Women’s Empowerment in Osaka, Japan. Read more
June 28, 2019
UNSGSA Statement at the Financial Inclusion Forum: Leaving No One Behind
"People need to be able to access and responsibly use a broad range of tools such as savings, credit, insurance, and payments. This is particularly true for hard-to-reach groups like the poor, women, and the rural." - UNSGSA Read more
June 13, 2019
Financial Inclusion Important for Aging Populations
"The world’s population is aging rapidly. Globally, people over 60 or over represent the fastest growing age group. This group is expected to more than double by 2050. And the ratio of workers to retirees will be halved from today’s 8-to-1, to 4-to-1 by 2050." - UNSGSA Read more
June 7, 2019
