Tuesday 29 August 2017

Just like Brian Wilson's sandbox ... ?!

Ha! I think that's what they're talking about. 'What's this, boss?' PR email, son, about Bahrain welcoming two entrants into a sandbox. 'Regulatory sandbox, you mean?' I don't know about that, Voice. I think they're talking about the sort of sandbox that Brian Wilson had. 'Eh?' You know, Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys? 'Yeah, of course.' Well, when he was composing his tunes he used to like to sit in a sandbox with his piano. 'Why?!' I don't know! Ask him. Maybe it gave him that beach vibe that he was looking for. 'Well, why didn't he go to the beach?' Oh, what, with his piano, you're saying? 'Ha!' Forget about it. / Here we are -

Manama, 28th August 2017:  The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has announced two entrants into its regulatory sandbox. Tramonex, a London-based forex cash management solution for businesses; and NOW Money, the Dubai-based account and remittance service for low-income workers in the GCC.

Well, okay, it's, uh ... just a boring regulatory sandbox. 'Told you.' Never mind.

Launched in June, the Bahrain regulatory sandbox provides a virtual space for companies to test their financial technology based solutions, and is open to existing CBB licensees and other local and foreign firms. By offering firms an opportunity for expansion and innovation, the framework is expected to help boost fintech businesses around the globe and consolidate Bahrain's position as a fintech and financial services hub.

Now ... Tramonex?

For companies dealing in multiple currencies, Tramonex offers an efficient, quick and cheaper way of processing and transferring funds at your fingertips. The start-up focuses on facilitating conversion and settlement services to automate cross border transactions, and provides competitive services.

Okay, okay. That's nice. 'What about NOW Money, boss?' We know all about them. I've written about them a couple of times, ain't I?

Okay, okay. As it's not an exciting music-related story, I think we can end it here with a quote from Khalid Hamad ...

Khalid Hamad, Executive Director of Banking Supervision at CBB, said: "We are pleased to welcome the first two entrants into the regulatory sandbox, in the early stages of the framework's launch. This initiative highlights the CBB's continuous efforts as the Kingdom's single regulator to update and develop the fintech ecosystem and enable industry players to create innovative and forward-looking fintech products while maintaining the overall safety and soundness of the financial system."

Thanks, Khalid.

-ENDS-

...

Anything else? [Because their ENDS isn't my end, you dig?] Music? What am I listening to? Bob Marley.

Oh, by the way, Gram Parsons? I'm not crazy about most of his songs, except for two - She and $1000 Wedding. They are great songs, and his vocals are lovely on the recordings. Check them out on YouTube, dear reader(s), if you're not familiar. 'His friends cremated him in the desert, didn't they, boss?' Well, yes ... after he died. They stole Parsons' body. Unfortunately, they messed it up. Just poured petrol over him in this car, and threw in a match. 'Christ!' Ridiculous.