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First Data, a international leader in electronic ecommerce Announces Partnership

By: Phil Lopez

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First Data Corporation, a worldwide leader in electronic commerce and payment processing, has announced a new, three-year agreement with the Ministry of State for Administrative Development of the Republic of Egypt (MSAD), for the extension of the Egyptian government’s family card project, which covers subsidised food and Social Solidarity retirement fund services in nine governorates/provinces.

Under terms of the deal, First Data will offer a fully maintained service for the issuing and processing of more than 4.5 million multifunctional, reloadable smart cards. These cards are used by eligible families to claim subsidised food at grocery stores and Social Solidarity pensions at service centres throughout Egypt. The agreement marks the expansion of First Data’s business into the emerging Egyptian credit card processing market.

First Data will roll out cards during the next seven months, working with specialist local and government institutes as well as MASRIA CARD, the oldest and most advanced card manufacturer in Egypt, for cards production and personalisation, and the Aviation Information Technology Company (AVIT), a subsidiary of the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, for the provision of equipment and networking infrastructure. AVIT will offer process and data hosting services from its data centre to maintain the installment and maintenance of 11,000 new point-of-sale terminals at grocery stores throughout nine governorates in Egypt, serving 4.5 million families each month. Additionally, First Data will develop a network of service centres to support cardholders and grocery outlets. The payment credit card and merchant account expertise used will also allow individuals to use the cards to claim a series of extra government benefits like as health, transportation, gas and other subsidies, when these are launched.

“We selected First Data for its scale, merchant account competence and aptitude to deliver a turnkey solution within the difficult timescales for this last and most important phase of our family card assignment,” said Dr. Ahmed Samir Elrafie, head of Policies and Programmes Sector at the Ministry of State for Administrative Development. “With First Data’s support, we will be able to provide citizens with reliable and convenient access to subsidised food and Social Solidarity pensions, with the scope to enlarge the project to include a range of other government benefits in the future.”

“First Data helps organisations around the world to develop more cost-effective prepaid card programmes, leveraging industry-leading technology and an in-depth knowledge of customers’ behaviours and preferences,” said George Tsoutsos, managing director of First Data’s operations in North Africa. “This agreement reflects First Data’s commitment to the emerging merchant account areas of North Africa and our skill to drive investment to sustain payment infrastructure growth. We continue to develop our relationships with government sector organisations, particularly those in emerging markets, and are delighted to support MSAD by playing a key role in delivering this important piece of payments infrastructure in Egypt”.

Prepaid cards are an successful way of reaching underserved and unbanked populations – a universal feature in developing payment markets such as Egypt. Through prepaid card programmes, government organisations can present patrons increased utility within a secure environment, enabling them to participate in an increasingly cashless society.

About the Ministry of State for Administrative Development (MSAD)

The Ministry of State for Administrative Development (MSAD) works in direction of implementing the National Plan of raising the efficiency of the state's administrative body through an integrated management system of modernizing the Egyptian government. This is accomplished through the Ministry's subsequent programmes:

Institutional Development: aims to expand plans, policies, laws and modern management structures. In addition, adjust the salary and incentive structure, enhance the work environment, the growth of human resource and prepare workforce working within the state's administrative system on up to date management systems and refine their expertise.

Governmental Services Development: aims to provide people and investors with services throughout the state in an capable, effective and convenient manner. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Programme: aims to enhance the governmental employment process decrease government spending and the automation of public bodies through the usage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

The MSAD perceives Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as a strategic instrument that could be used in implementing the National Development Programme, which seeks to elevate the effectiveness of the state's administrative body, and deliver governmental services at a fast pace in an setting that is exceedingly successful. Government services can be delivered to citizens through a variety of integrated service channels at their convenience.

About First Data

First Data powers the worldwide financial system by making it easy, fast and protected for people and companies to buy goods and services by means of virtually any form of electronic payment. Whether the selection of payment is a gift card, a credit or debit card or a check, First Data securely processes the transaction and harnesses the power of the data to deliver intelligence and insight for millions of merchant locations and thousands of card issuers in 36 countries.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

First Data Independent Sales providesmerchant account services.

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