Ant International, a global digital payment and financial technology provider, announced that it supports nearly 100 million micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) worldwide.
The company also revealed the launch of its global “Embrace the Power of Small” campaign, coinciding with International MSME Day today (27 June).
Ant International offers a variety of solutions that enable MSMEs to digitise and unlock growth opportunities. Alipay+, the company’s cross-border mobile payment platform, is now accepted by over 90 million merchants in 66 markets.
This expansion has been driven in part by the integration of Alipay+ with national QR codes in several countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea.
As a result, Alipay+ transactions have seen significant growth in these markets, with a 52% increase in transactions at hawker stalls in Singapore in the first half of 2024 compared to the second half of 2023.
Antom, another Ant International business, provides digital payment solutions to merchants in over 40 countries and regions.
Its D-store solution, which allows MSMEs to create online stores quickly and easily, has been adopted by over 5,000 businesses and has seen a 27% increase in average monthly transactions in the second quarter of 2024.
WorldFirst, an Ant International subsidiary, empowers over 1 million SMEs with international payments and is set to expand into more markets in Southeast Asia and Europe.
ANEXT Bank, a digital wholesale bank, has also seen significant growth in its customer base, with 69% of its customers being micro businesses.
The company has also recently launched bettr, a new global digital lending service aimed at providing microloans to MSMEs through embedded finance partnerships.
In addition to its digital solutions, Ant International also focuses on partnering with other organizations to support MSME development.
In Indonesia, the company is collaborating with DANA to launch the second edition of SisBerdaya, a programme that provides training and mentorship to female entrepreneurs.
The first edition of the programme saw over 2,700 applicants, with 180 participants receiving training and 30 receiving grants.
Ant International is also a partner in the 10×1000 Tech for Inclusion programme, which aims to train digital leaders in developing countries.
As of 2023, over 6,000 individuals from over 100 countries have completed the programme, with 90% of them being from developing markets and 60% working in MSMEs.
Earlier this year, Ant International launched Programme Sirius, an initiative supported by 13 Asia Pacific fintech leaders, to help MSMEs transition towards sustainability.
“MSMEs are the lifeblood of our economies, driving innovation, employment, and inclusive development. Their resilience and entrepreneurial spirit deserve to be celebrated and nurtured. At Ant International, we firmly believe in the power of small and that small businesses can make a big impact.
Fintech innovations today unlock new possibilities for small businesses to dream boldly and compete globally. Together with our partners, we want to ensure that every business and every person will have access to the knowledge, network, and digital tools to help them achieve their goals.”
said Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International.
