The most recent Visa Business School workshop gathers over 25 banking and processing representatives to discuss real world applications in Tunisia

Tunis, Tunisia, 12 July 2011 - Under the auspices of Visa Business School CEMEA, Visa hosted a three-day workshopentitled "VisaNet Financial Management" from June 27-29. The objective of the workshopwas to showcase the benefits of the VisaNet BASE II System and provide in-depthguidance on clearing and settlement processes and to highlight how a securebanking infrastructure can help increase electronic payment transactions andcontribute to the development of the Tunisian tourism sector and the overalleconomy.

Over 25 participants from Tunisia,Egypt and Sub-Saharan Africa took part in the workshop which allowed them towork with their own reports and invoices, thereby applying their new skills totheir real-life activity. The course showed participants how to maximize thefinancial gains of their organization through discussions on best practice,hands-on exercises and case studies including the tools that allow bankers tobest manage their portfolios. It also touched on e-payments and their role indriving economic growth.

 "At Visa, we see great potential for thegrowth of digital currency in Tunisia. To help realize the opportunity, we areworking to provide our client banks with the most up-to-date training on Visa'sinnovative and cutting-edge technology, including VisaNet - one of the world'smost advanced processing networks," said Tarek Elhousseiny, Visa's GeneralManager, North and West Africa. "As more people, more businesses,merchants and governments adopt electronic payments and digital currency, ithas placed greater demand on the infrastructure required to process thesetransactions. By enhancing the digital currency platform, we can help catalyzetourism transactions and the inbound market.

We continue to enhance VisaNet, whichtoday is capable of handling more than 20,000 transaction messages per secondwith reliability, convenience and security. Digital currency is transformingthe world, bringing us closer together and providing economic empowerment tomore people than ever before through: innovation, security, government efficiency,merchant benefits, financial inclusion and financial literacy."

Among the many benefits of VisaNet ishow it supports economic growth through digital currency, links domesticeconomies to the larger global economy, and encourages economic empowerment ofpeople, businesses, banks and governments.

An effective and secure electronicpayment card infrastructure supporting the Tunisian banking system will helpthe country realize the economic benefits of transactions related to the traveland tourism industry. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, thetotal contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Tunisia, including its widereconomic impacts, is estimated at 17.0% of GDP in 2011. Currently, the totalcontribution of travel and tourism to employment in Tunisia, including jobsindirectly supported by the industry, stands at 15.5% of total employment. (1)

"Visa works closely with countriesaround the world to support the development of the electronic paymentinfrastructure in order to capture the economic benefits of the travel andtourism industry," explained Elhousseiny. "We look forward to exploring similaropportunities with both the public and private sector in Tunisia as a means tosupport the economy and highlight the economic benefits of digital currency."

Source: (1) http://www.wttc.org/eng/Tourism_Research/Economic_Research/Country_Reports/Tunisia/

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About Visa Inc.:
Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers,businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countriesand territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency. Underpinningdigital currency is one of the world's most advanced processingnetworks--VisaNet--that is capable of handling more than 20,000 transactionmessages a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed paymentfor merchants. Visa is not a bank, and does not issue cards, extend credit orset rates and fees for consumers. Visa's innovations, however, enable itsfinancial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: Pay now withdebit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. For more information,visit www.corporate.visa.com.

Media Contacts:
Amany Aboulfetouh 
amany@traccs.net        

© Press Release 2011