Mastercard will be working with Meta to help digitize more small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) through a training webinar, according to a press release.
The webinar will feature insights from industry experts and a masterclass on how to deal with uncertainty, which will come from Nathan Furr, an author and associate professor at INSEAD, the release stated. The event will take place Dec. 8.
Meta Vice President of the Middle East, Africa and Turkey Derya Matras said in the release that amid the pandemic, the goal of the partnership with Mastercard is to provide “the necessary digital skills for startups and small businesses to survive, recover and deliver results online and offline.”
Some of the biggest challenges include access to training and digital tools, according to the release. In the MEA markets, there’s also compounding issues with infrastructure and power supply interruptions. SMBs need to capitalize on eCommerce and diverse types of payment options.
“The challenges that small and medium businesses continue to experience as a result of COVID-19 are significant, and we remain firmly committed to supporting them in both recovering and, in due time, thriving,” Matras said in the release. “… We are continuing those training efforts in partnership with Mastercard, helping further boost a burgeoning startup ecosystem to positively impact socioeconomic growth across the region.”
In November, Mastercard teamed up with Jeeves, a Mexico-based business banking company.
Read more: Mastercard, Jeeves to Offer Local Cards to Mexican Businesses
The companies are working together on a new card that lets companies pay in any local currency from anywhere Mastercard can be used.
“Through these collaborations, we can contribute to a fast digital transformation that provides startups with the products that directly align with their needs and facilitate access to financial services,” said Pablo Cuarón, director of new payments flows at Mastercard México, at the time.
Jeeves’ mission is to offer quick credit card approval without personal guarantees. It works with hundreds of Mexican businesses.
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