Home ›› 20 Nov 2021 ›› Corporate
Mastercard announced the winners of the ‘Mastercard Excellence Award 2021’ to honour top performing partner banks, financial institutions and merchants and marking 30 years of its operations in Bangladesh at a ceremony in Dhaka on Friday.
The event also commemorated 50 years of Bangladesh's independence. Mastercard was the first global payment technology company to set up a dedicated liaison office in Bangladesh in 2013, the company said in a press statement.
Planning Minister MA Mannan was present as the chief guest while Md Khurshid Alam, executive director of Bangladesh Bank as the special guest, Helen LaFave, Charge d’ affairs of US Embassy Dhaka as the guest of honor and other senior officials from partner banks, fintech partners, dignitaries and merchants were attended the programme.
The Mastercard Excellence Award were instituted in 2019 to recognise banks, fintechs and other institutions for their contributions towards driving financial inclusion. Since it started operations in Bangladesh 30 years ago, Mastercard has supported the country’s financial inclusion goals by enabling and building of a seamless, secure, and efficient digital payments ecosystem for the people of Bangladesh.
In its third year, the Mastercard Excellence Award recognised partners across categories for their contribution to innovation and success in driving business growth.
Mastercard Bangladesh Country Manager Syed Mohammad Kamal said, “From the very start Mastercard's focus has been to promote financial inclusion by providing innovative digital payment solutions to the people of Bangladesh. By combining technology and partnerships, Mastercard strives to bring best-in-class solutions to build safe, secure and seamless payment ecosystem in the country and contribute to the government’s vision of Digital Bangladesh.”
“Celebrating its 30th anniversary in the country, Mastercard extends its deepest gratitude and appreciation for its valued partner banks, fintech partners, merchants, regulators and the government of Bangladesh for their continued support, especially during the tough times of the pandemic and in making everyday commerce activities easier, safer and more efficient for everyone,” he said.
Mastercard established its business relationship in Bangladesh with the first acceptance in 1991 and the first branded plastic card in 1997, building on a solid foundation of operations in the country.
In last 30 years of operations, Mastercard has partnered with leading financial and commercial institutions including AB Bank Limited, Bank Asia Limited, Al-Arafah Islami Bank Limited , BRAC Bank, Dhaka Bank Limited, Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited, Eastern Bank Limited, Islami Bank Limited, LankaBangla Finance, Mutual Trust Bank Limited, National Bank Limited, NCC Bank Limited, The Premier Bank Limited, Prime Bank Limited, Pubali Bank Limited, Social Islami Bank Limited, Southeast Bank Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, The City Bank Limited and United Commercial Bank, it added.
