Amazon Payment Services announces new programme for MENA startups

Amazon Payment Services has announced a new programme to support startups across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, who are looking to grow their business online. The Startups Go Online suite will offer companies free and discounted services, tools and resources, to help organise and accelerate their business expansion.

As part of the programme, Amazon Payment Services is providing free monthly account management support, discounted bank rates, a 50 per cent discount on Amazon Payment Services’ Installments service, a dedicated account manager to fast-track onboarding, and go-to-market guidance, including two live training webinars.

The programme is extending benefits from Amazon Web Services (AWS) as part of AWS Activate, providing eligible startups that opt into the Startups Go Online programme with cloud computing tools and resources.

Peter George, managing director of Amazon Payment Services, commented: “This new programme is another step in our ongoing commitment to support businesses of all sizes with simple, affordable, and trusted online payment experiences.”

The new programme was announced at the 2022 STEP Conference in Dubai. Mohamed Imtiyaz, head of Business Development at Amazon Payment Services, emphasised the potential the digital payment space holds for startups and small to medium sized businesses (SMB) during his keynote address at the conference.

Imtiyaz said: “From sending payment links via text messages, to adding a secure payment gateway to a website, digital payments allow merchants to sell their products to customers anytime and anywhere in the world. By partnering with the right payment service provider, startups can expand their market reach, customise payment options based on customer preference, access detailed insights and valuable data, enjoy a straightforward onboarding and integration experience, all while limiting costs and ensuring ROI for their business’ growth online.”