Network International to showcase comprehensive card solution portfolio at Gitex

With customers ranging from Emirates Islamic Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Finance House to Bank of Beirut and First Gulf Bank, Network's EMV (Europay MasterCard and Visa) certification makes it the sole service provider for Smart Card Personalization and Smart Card Processing solutions in the region for issuers and acquirers alike.

Network International aims to boost the penetration of smart card technology in light of the Card scheme directive to issue chip-based cards in the region by early 2006 and is supporting existing and new clients alike in leveraging the new technology to provide a more secure customer experience while reducing cases of credit card fraud.

At GITEX, the company will showcase its comprehensive offering of card processing solutions, ATM management solutions, merchant processing solutions, loyalty solutions, fraud protection and card personalization and production capabilities.

"Gitex provides the ideal opportunity to interact with senior management of banks and financial institutions to demonstrate the efficiency and cost improvement of our back-office processing services," said Abdulla Qassem, Chairman, Network LLC. "Network is a Principal Member of Visa International and MasterCard International, offering customers a comprehensive range of products and services in the acquiring and issuing segments of the card industry in the Middle East region and beyond."

"Recent consumer behavior surveys indicate a trend towards a cashless economy in the Middle East. The increased preference for cards over cash coupled with the EMV mandate calling for smart cards by 2006 means that member banks are expected to move to chip-driven cards starting this year. The ever increasing volume of transactions makes it necessary to have an efficient processing solution in meeting both card scheme mandates as well as customer expectations. Outsourcing not only enables a reduction in costs, but also helps capitalize on knowledge and expertise by allowing clients to focus on core competencies such as Strategic Development, Product Development, Marketing and Customer Service," said Ram Chari, Senior Manager, Network LLC.

Network's Card Management System assures reliabilty coupled with high flexibility, allowing the service provider to tailor its offerings to individual client needs, ensuring integration, transparency and smooth communcation. Infrastructural investment complemented with technological innovation is a key tenet of Network's EMV compliance policy.

"The provision of premuim service in all matters of compliance is a key focus for Network, and we invest intensively on continuing infrastructural and technological upgradation while emphasizing data protection and integrity. Our status as sole EMV certified solutions provider in the region places on us the responsibilty of living up to our market leader credentials, and we shall be at Gitex demonstrating our on going comittment towards helping our partner banks to improve their logistical efficiency and productivity," Qassem concluded.