FinTech revolutionizes small business landscape of Iraq

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FinTech revolutionizes small business landscape of Iraq

 Business 24 July 202024 July 2020  Business Matters

Surging Digital Economy Ecosystem Boosts Middle Class

The digital age has unified the Iraqi people, having reached into nearly every town and village throughout the country and contributed to building Iraq’s digital economy.

Susan Hufton explains that according to Internet World Stats (IWS), almost 50 percent of the Iraqi population accesses the internet, and Statisa.com reports nearly 95 percent mobile phone penetration. Between these two channels, Iraqi citizens are now accessing valuable information and services. The availability and access to networking technologies like the internet and mobile phones, has laid the foundation for a digital economy and opened the doors toward financial inclusion.

Iraq’s homegrown fintech Qi Card, plugged into the surging mobile and internet networks to help drive financial inclusion for the country’s 38 million citizens, and one of the Middle East’s most underbanked countries. This started with the introduction of integrative technologies such as biometric identification and an electronic payment system ecosystem.

ISC’s partnership with state banks Al-Rafidain and Al-Rashed is the most successful public/private partnership in the history of Iraq, and its value toward making banking services readily available to the unbanked/underbanked population is readily demonstrated.

Qi Card circulated throughout the population as a way to link citizens to the state-based financial system. Safety, convenience, and efficiency were critical benefits for working, retired, and displaced Iraqis. Digital payments assure that state-funded payments are expedited for quick disbursement of funds to citizens across the country.

The system reduced the frequency of transporting large amounts of cash currency through dangerous roads. Beneficiaries no longer need to wait in line outside the bank for hours on designated days waiting to receive money.

The biometric identification ensured that money reached the intended person. New security parameters dramatically reduced the system of fraudulent beneficiaries and organized crime syndicates defrauding the country’s financial system, two areas that the Iraqi government had long struggled to contain.

A large part of the Qi Card ecosystem was intended to fuel the surgency of an Iraqi middle class. This meant implementing a small loan system creating opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs. Iraqi banks did not traditionally serve small loans.

A person who needed to pay a hospital bill or wanted to open a small restaurant, bakery, or tailoring store could not access funds based on their creditworthiness. This simply was not a traditional practice of the past.

This changed with the ISC-driven digital economy landscape. The loan program allowed citizens to have instant access to credit, entrepreneurs to innovate and build new business amenities to serve their communities while offering financially responsible solutions.

This reduces the risky practice of borrowing money from a loan shark and can safely strengthen a working, middle-class system through entrepreneurship. Replacing out of date processes with a new digital economy strengthens the financial ecosystem of Iraq and creates a system of accountability, progress, and security.

If Iraq’s new digital economy, built on technological advancements, continues to foster a system of financial inclusion, then perhaps, finally, the term “underserved” will no longer define Iraqi consumers and businesses.

 

https://www.bmmagazine.co.uk/business/fintech-revolutionizes-small-business-landscape-of-iraq/

[gregp]

I drive by Fintech every day.  It’s a huge building. I was wondering what they did. 

[jmartin1145]

3 hours ago, gregp said:

I drive by Fintech every day.  It’s a huge building. I was wondering what they did. 

Go in and see if you can take a tour. Get back with us and let us know.

[Mary B]

    

 

FinTech revolutionizes small enterprise panorama of Iraq

 

 

FinTech revolutionizes small enterprise panorama of Iraq

 Jung Min-seo

July 24, 2020

 

Surging Digital Financial system Ecosystem Boosts Center Class

The digital age has unified the Iraqi folks, having reached into almost each city and village all through the nation and contributed to constructing Iraq’s digital economic system.

Susan Hufton explains that in response to Web World Stats (IWS), virtually 50 % of the Iraqi inhabitants accesses the web, and Statisa.com reviews almost 95 % cell phone penetration. Between these two channels, Iraqi residents at the moment are accessing helpful data and companies. The supply and entry to networking applied sciences just like the web and cellphones, has laid the inspiration for a digital economic system and opened the doorways towards monetary inclusion.

Iraq’s homegrown fintech Qi Card, plugged into the surging cellular and web networks to assist drive monetary inclusion for the nation’s 38 million residents, and one of many Center East’s most underbanked nations. This began with the introduction of integrative applied sciences reminiscent of biometric identification and an digital fee system ecosystem.

ISC’s partnership with state banks Al-Rafidain and Al-Rashed is probably the most profitable public/personal partnership within the historical past of Iraq, and its value towards making banking companies available to the unbanked/underbanked inhabitants is quickly demonstrated.

Qi Card circulated all through the inhabitants as a approach to hyperlink residents to the state-based monetary system. Security, comfort, and effectivity have been crucial advantages for working, retired, and displaced Iraqis. Digital funds guarantee that state-funded funds are expedited for fast disbursement of funds to residents throughout the nation.

The system decreased the frequency of transporting giant quantities of cash forex by way of harmful roads. Beneficiaries now not want to attend in line exterior the bank for hours on designated days ready to obtain cash.

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The biometric identification ensured that cash reached the supposed individual. New safety parameters dramatically decreased the system of fraudulent beneficiaries and arranged crime syndicates defrauding the nation’s monetary system, two areas that the Iraqi authorities had lengthy struggled to comprise.

A big a part of the Qi Card ecosystem was supposed to gas the surgency of an Iraqi center class. This meant implementing a small loan system creating alternatives for aspiring entrepreneurs. Iraqi banks didn’t historically serve small loans.

An individual who wanted to pay a hospital invoice or wished to open a small restaurant, bakery, or tailoring retailer couldn’t entry funds primarily based on their creditworthiness. This merely was not a standard follow of the previous.

This modified with the ISC-driven digital economic system panorama. The loan program allowed residents to have instantaneous entry to credit score, entrepreneurs to innovate and construct new enterprise facilities to serve their communities whereas providing financially accountable options.

This reduces the dangerous follow of borrowing cash from a loan shark and might safely strengthen a working, middle-class system by way of entrepreneurship. Changing old-fashioned processes with a brand new digital economic system strengthens the monetary ecosystem of Iraq and creates a system of accountability, progress, and safety.

If Iraq’s new digital economic system, constructed on technological developments, continues to foster a system of economic inclusion, then maybe, lastly, the time period “underserved” will now not outline Iraqi shoppers and companies.

 

https://fintechzoom.com/fintech-news-fintech/fintech-revolutionizes-small-business-landscape-of-iraq/