MasterCard and Aramex help boost e-tail in the Middle East economy

MasterCard, a leading global payment solutions provider and Aramex, the global logistics and transportation solutions provider, recently joined hands to make e-tailing even more efficient for consumers in the Middle East. 

MasterCard has collaborated with Aramex to provide additional, exclusive benefits to its cardholders using the Shop and Ship service. Shop and Ship is the e-tail delivery service by Aramex that offers Middle East consumers the convenience of online shopping from the US, UK and Europe at competitive rates.

Shoppers can access the Aramex service by logging on to ShopandShip.com and signing up for a lifetime membership account. Once the consumer places an order, Aramex receives the ordered goods at its facilities from the e-tailer, and then ships and delivers them right to the shopper.

The year-long program underscores a strategic alliance between MasterCard and Aramex as it combines the strengths of MasterCard's innovative payment processing global network and Aramex's extensive expertise in providing e-services and e-business solutions.

Raghu Malhotra, general manager, Middle East, MasterCard Worldwide said: "Being at the heart of commerce, MasterCard is committed to the development of innovative payment solutions and recognizes the growing popularity of e-tailing globally and regionally. We are pleased to join hands with Aramex for an initiative that will further boost e-tail in the Middle East and Levant and that creates new business-building opportunities for our customer financial institutions. At the same time, as part of our ongoing commitment to deliver priceless experiences to our cardholders, we are pleased to offer them additional and exclusive benefits that will make online shopping and shipping even easier than before."

Hussein Hachem, CEO for Middle East & Africa, Aramex, said "At Aramex, we continuously strive to develop solutions that are at the forefront of the logistics and transportation industry and that provide real convenience to our end consumers. Shop and Ship, powered by Aramex, makes it even easier to 'buy it over there and get it over here'. By using this service, consumers in the Middle East no longer need to be concerned about whether the US, UK and European e-shops that they visit offer the option of international shipping or whether they charge high shipping fees."

The announcement follows a recent survey by MasterCard which shows that the percentage of respondents in the UAE accessing the Internet for shopping increased from 29% in 2009 to 42% in 2010. Categories leading the growth in the UAE in 2010 include airline tickets and hotel bookings, followed by home appliances and electronic products, clothing & accessories, restaurants/home delivery of food and supermarkets/superstores.

URL: http://www.ameinfo.com/263158.html