Central bank representatives will participate at the Nordic Summit

When executives from Nordic retailers meet at The Nordic Summit, they will be joined by representatives from the European and Nordic central banks to discuss how central bank digital currencies (CBDC) can strengthen resilience in an uncertain world.

On October 8-9, approximately 100 leaders from major Nordic will convene for The Nordic Summit in Malmö. Beyond sharing insights on technology, consumer behavior, and artificial intelligence, participants are focused on strengthening the industry's resilience in an increasingly volatile world.

The introduction of central bank digital currencies, currently under consideration in several countries, represents one potential measure for safeguarding payment systems against cyberattacks and technical failures. The retail sector's role in this transition will be a key conference theme, with participation from multiple central bank representatives.

"There's a strong sense of community within the Nordic retail industry, where we can strengthen our collective competitiveness by sharing insights and defining collaborative projects. Technology that ensures efficient and secure payments is one such area. In any potential crisis, effective coordination among stakeholders is essential. We are therefore delighted to have the central banks' engagement and presence," says Iren Tranvåg, CEO of Nordic Initiative, organizer of the Malmö summit.

The European Central Bank (ECB) will be represented by Evelien Witlox, Programme Director for the digital euro. She will share her insights, followed by a panel discussion with Nordic central bank representatives, moderated by payment executives from IKEA and H&M.

Other programme highlights:

• AI and personalization – How can artificial intelligence scale personalization? Are we approaching a future where we market to AI rather than just people?

• Retail media debate – Experts from Strawberry, Matas, and Landfolk debate whether retail media undermines or strengthens customer loyalty.

• Digital wallets – What builds consumer trust as wallets evolve from payment tools into platforms for loyalty and engagement?

• Agentic commerce – When AI shops on consumers' behalf, where does trust lie: with brands, retailers, or intelligent agents?

See the whole program here: https://www.thenordicsummit.com