The first international card payments in Iraq were processed in Baghdad yesterday by Visa International, making Visa the first payment card provider to operate in the country since the lifting of US sanctions.
“We have started the acceptance of international Visa cards in a certain number of outlets including hotels and restaurants,” said Visa Middle East General Manager, Peter Scriven. “As foreign visitors enter the country to help with the reconstruction of post-war Iraq, we hope to provide a modern payment method that will facilitate the work of international and humanitarian organizations as well as the development of new business.
”The improvement of Iraq’s retail payment systems, and the eventual increase in Iraq’s banked population, will not only bring convenience, efficiency, speed and security to consumers, merchants and banks; it will also provide additional sources of funds to the economy in the form of bank deposits that can be further invested in economic development and growth,” added Scriven.
Visa Jordan Card Services in nearby Amman have been the first processing center to accept Visa transactions from Iraq. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
