Knowledge key to MasterCard regional success
MasterCard Worldwide has announced positive
second quarter 2007 operating results for the Asia/Pacific, Middle East
& Africa region.They release the following statement with their results:
“For the quarter, the region reported gross
dollar volume (18.1%), purchase volume (21.3%), purchase transactions
(21.7%), cash transactions (26.9%) and cards issued (13.3%) versus the
same period in 2006. As of 30 June 2007, over 193 million MasterCard
cards (excluding Maestro and Cirrus) had been issued by MasterCard
customer financial institutions across APMEA. Cardholders in the region
made 704 million purchase transactions in the second quarter of 2007 and
could use their MasterCard cards at over 7.4 million acceptance
locations throughout the region. Our sustained growth in APMEA
demonstrates our consistency to deliver major benefits to our financial
institution customers, consumers, businesses and merchants.
“The MasterCard Worldwide Centers of Commerce programme launched in Q2
bears strong testimony to MasterCard’s wealth of intelligence and
insights to the factors which fuel global commerce, and we will continue
to leverage our intellectual capital to create opportunities for
customers in the rapidly evolving marketplace, said Andre Sekulic,
president, Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa, MasterCard Worldwide. In
addition, the Maestro brand mark appeared on over 221 million cards, up
18.7 per cent compared to the second quarter of 2006 in APMEA. Consumers
can now make online debit point of sale purchases with their Maestro
cards at nearly 974,000 merchant locations throughout the APMEA region.
MasterCard in the APMEA region also reported a number of significant
business achievements for the quarter:
“MasterCards knowledge leadership took centre stage in Q2 with the global
launch of the MasterCard Worldwide Centers of Commerce programme,
designed to provide insights and knowledge on how leading cities
influence the global economy. Central to this new research platform is
the first annual MasterCard Worldwide Centers of Commerce Index, the
most comprehensive analysis to date of how major cities compare in
performing critical functions that connect markets and commerce
globally.
“Further expansion of MasterCards knowledge leadership programme in APMEA
included the release of a joint research with HSBC on Chinas affluent.
In recognition of the speed and dexterity that this segment is growing
in the urban hubs of China, MasterCard and HSBC undertook this joint
piece of research to capture in time this unprecedented phenomenon and
understand the opportunities it holds. The research provides a deep
delve into the consumption behavior, attitude and lifestyles of the
Chinese affluent, offering greater insights into the immense commercial
opportunities that exist and gives businesses crucial information on
which to base their plans and competitive strategies.
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“The strength of MasterCard PayPassTM which is now in nine APMEA markets
was further solidified with the launch of credit and prepaid cards in
association with BNI, one of the largest banks in Indonesia. In
addition, MasterCard collaborated with the Kaohsiung City Government in
Taiwan to launch the worlds first MasterCard OneSmart PayPass Chip Combi
Card. On the EMV front, MasterCard launched an EMV-compliant card in
association with PT Bank Internasional Indonesia Tbk (BII), one of the
largest credit card issuers in Indonesia.
“MasterCard continued to gain momentum in the global commercial products
arena. In New Zealand, MasterCard launched the Westpac BusinessPLUSGold
MasterCard card, New Zealands first business gold credit card with
rewards for small businesses. In Korea, MasterCard collaborated with LG
Card to introduce the MasterCard Multinational Corporate Program for LG
Electronics. In Taiwan, MasterCard collaborated with Cathay United Bank
to launch the Business Platinum Card, targeting the surging number of
Taiwanese business travellers who prefer mileage programmes and
services.
“MasterCard continued to reinforce its leadership in the premium space by
working with ESSEC Business School to launch the MasterCard-ESSEC Luxury
Brand Management Executive Programme. The programme gives 15 luxury
industry professionals insights into the affluent consumer market in
Asia/Pacific and share knowledge on how best to meet the needs of this
fast evolving segment. Customers financial institutions also continue to
choose MasterCard when launching premium card programmes. In Indonesia,
MasterCard launched ANZ Black, a World MasterCard card, and LippoBank
Ladys Diamond MasterCard to target the affluent. In China, MasterCard
launched the first Titanium card, in association with Hua Xia Bank. In
Taiwan, the Chinatrust Commercial Bank was the first to issue the
Titanium MasterCard card.
“In Saudi Arabia, MasterCard launched the first MasterCard Islamic
Titanium card, in collaboration with the National Commercial Bank. An
agreement was reached with Standard Chartered Bank in Bahrain to launch
the first Titanium MasterCard credit card in the Kingdom.
“MasterCard continued to gain momentum in the debit space, announcing an
exclusive debit agreement with First Gulf Bank (FGB) for conversion of
its proprietary base of debit cards to MasterCard Unembossed debit
cards.
“MasterCards innovative co-brand cards made significant inroads in APMEA.
There were three co-brand card programme launches in China China
Merchant Bank-National Basketball Association MasterCard, China Merchant
Bank-Egret MasterCard Card and Bank of China-Ctrip MasterCard Card
cornering the sports, travel and airline sectors.
“In Saudi Arabia, MasterCard launched the Samba Al Khair Ladies Card, the
first MasterCard ladies credit card offering female cardholders special
benefits designed to fulfill their financial service needs.
“In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), MasterCard strengthened its footprint
in Islamic finance by entering into an agreement with Noor Islamic Bank
(NIB) to exclusively issue MasterCard branded debit and credit cards.
Additionally, MasterCard launched the SABB Amanah credit card in
collaboration with Saudi British Bank, a new Shariah compliant product
in Saudi Arabia.
“To encourage cross-border usage, MasterCard launched dedicated travel
campaigns in Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. MasterCard also
worked closely with leading travel companies to offer MasterCard
cardholders with travel promotions. In India, MasterCard had a joint
promotion with Travelguru, a leading Indian online travel portal, to
offer MasterCard cardholders special deals on three premier Indian
airlines.
“MasterCards sponsorship of the ongoing Great Singapore Sale, Malaysia
Mega Sale, Taipei Great Sale and Dubai Summer Surprises continues to
strengthen its retail and card usage promotion platform across APMEA. In
Singapore, the first month of the Great Singapore Sale has seen spend
increase by 48 per cent and transactions increase 43 per cent, when
compared with the same period last year.”
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