Mastercard Joins Forces with Smart SME Platform
Foreks - Mastercard and Smart SMB have accelerated their concrete benefit-oriented projects by joining forces for the digital transformation of SMEs.
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and Mastercard Turkey and Azerbaijan General Manager Avşar Gürdal, who came together within the framework of the collaboration, shared their common goals and upcoming projects to strengthen the digital presence of SMEs in the digital world and to enhance their sustainable growth.
The Smart SMB Platform, initiated with the aim of being a digital transformation hub for SMEs in partnership with the global payment technology company Mastercard and managed by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), introduced its new projects in a meeting at TOBB Twin Towers.
In their joint statements, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and Mastercard Turkey and Azerbaijan General Manager Avşar Gürdal discussed projects aimed at guiding the digital transformations of the SME ecosystem and boosting the competitiveness of businesses.
TOBB President Rıfat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated, "As the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges, we are committed to supporting the digitalization processes of our SMEs. The Smart SMB Platform reflects TOBB's vision for digital transformation and is a strategic step taken to enhance our country's competitiveness. This collaboration with Mastercard will not only guide our SMEs on their digitalization journey but will also strengthen Turkey's position in the global economy. With the training and solutions offered by Smart SMB, our businesses will be able to establish a more effective and powerful presence in both national and international markets. Digital transformation is not just a technology adaptation; it is a necessity for economic development and sustainable growth. In this process, I invite all our SMEs to explore the opportunities provided by Smart SMB."
Avşar Gürdal, General Manager of Mastercard Turkey and Azerbaijan, emphasized that the digital transformation of SMEs makes significant contributions to Turkey's overall digitalization process. Gürdal remarked, "As Mastercard, we are pleased to be alongside TOBB and Smart SMB, who share the same vision to guide SMEs in their digital transformation journey. Digitalization is a critical step for businesses not only to adapt to current conditions but also to secure a strong position in the competitive market of the future. We know that our SMEs wish to develop themselves across a wide spectrum, from financial technologies to e-commerce, from sustainability to innovation. By supporting these eager businesses in digitalization, we aspire to enhance our country's economic dynamism together."
The most up-to-date SME insight map will be available soon.
The Digital Transformation Research, initiated to analyze the digital transformation processes of SMEs and to create a roadmap for their digital transformation, aims to provide valuable insights. The research will reveal the opportunities and challenges businesses face in this process while offering concrete suggestions for the business world and public policies.
A new era in the Digital Transformation Ambassadors Program
The Digital Transformation Ambassadors Program provides training to SMEs across a wide range of innovative payment solutions, e-commerce, and e-export. The program initiated by Smart SMB will continue in 2025 with enhanced content covering areas such as digital-green transformation (twin transition) and innovation, supported by Mastercard.
Digital Transformation Conferences will meet with SMEs in new provinces.
In 2024, conferences held in Gaziantep, Kayseri, Samsun, Tekirdağ, Aydın, and Ankara reached thousands of SMEs. In 2025, events planned in cities such as Diyarbakır, Trabzon, Denizli, Sakarya, Mersin, and Adana aim to inspire more businesses. Additionally, workshops on e-commerce and e-export aimed at opening SMEs to global markets will be supported by special sponsor campaigns and regional analysis reports.
MasterKOBİ opportunities will empower more businesses.
To encourage especially women entrepreneurs to enter the global e-export market, MasterKOBİ supports will continue within the collaboration. Specially designed packages and programs for entrepreneurs selling on all marketplaces will reach more businesses through the Smart SMB support on the MasterKOBİ platform.
While Mastercard accelerates the digitalization processes of SMEs with innovative payment solutions, the training and consultancy services offered by Smart SMB further strengthen this transformation. With the collaboration, many more projects will be launched by 2025 with the goal of supporting the digital footprint and growth of businesses across Turkey.