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Card experts gather in Dubai for Prepaid Summit Middle East 2011

35 speakers give insight in US$188 billion sector

Prepaid Summit: Middle East 2011

Conference, Expo and Networking Dinner, with pre-conference Workshop

March 22-23 2011

Westin Hotel, Dubai

www.vrl-financial-news.com

2.5 billion adults are 'unbanked' globally and a ready market for innovative payments solutions

Prepaid accounts for 40% of new payment products

Sector predicted to top US $188b in GCC by 2012

Middle East region hot spot for youth, gift, travel prepaid cards

Dubai 15 March 2011: More than 35 experts are set to offer insight into the burgeoning prepaid cards sector, tipped to be worth US$188 billion in 2012 at the upcoming Prepaid Summit in Dubai, March 22-23 2011.

According to Network International 's Samer Soliman, prepaid solutions comprises up to 40 per cent of the new payment products developed the company over the last three years.

Visa's Jonathan Reynolds said: "Visa is returning with the prepaid workshop where we will review global and GGC prepaid trends and help stakeholders to review key success drivers across a range of prepaid programmes. We see tremendous value in this event as we are also able to gauge the market trends and discuss how prepaid can help a variety of partners achieve their business objectives." Visa is the event's title sponsor for second time.

Meanwhile, James Ratcliff, spokesperson for VRL Financial News, said the event is structured around 65 sessions spread over two days. "The Summit is now in its third year and is known as a knowledge intelligence platform for banks, payment providers and industry experts. Indeed, the highlight of this year's event is the first-time presentation of exclusive research on prepaid usage the opportunities for this region by TNS Middle East.

"With the prepaid market continuing to grow in the GCC region, the relevance of a prepaid summit for the Middle East continues to be evident, as we see major increase in number of delegates in 2011 than our inaugural conference in 2010," said Ratcliff.

Visa is on-board again as the Summit's Title Sponsor. Epay is the Gold sponsor for the summit and Network International LLC returns as the Silver Sponsor for second time. TNS is the official research partner.

-Ends-

About VRL Financial News
For over 20 years, VRL has been delivering a unique series of conferences and events to the financial services market. Sponsored by the major players in the industry, VRL conferences deliver focused and original content, with innovative first-time speakers and provocative sessions, exclusive research and a rich mix of delegates.

With major international conferences on the agenda in 2011, each of which is a red letter date in the diaries of the world's top financial players, the learning and networking opportunities of joining with VRL are second-to-none. More information available on www.vrl-financial-news.com

About VISA
Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency. Underpinning digital currency is one of the world's most advanced processing networks--VisaNet--that is capable of handling more than 10,000 transactions a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank, and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa's innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: Pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products.

For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com

About Network International LLC
Established in 1994, Network International LLC is the largest acquirer and one of the leading payment solutions providers in the Region geared to meet the needs of Banks, Financial institutions and large and individual retailers. It is a Principal Member of Visa International and MasterCard International for the UAE, offering customers the most comprehensive range of payment products and services in the Gulf and MENA region, for both the Issuing and Acquiring segment of the card payment industry. Offerings include credit and debit card processing services, ATM management and monitoring, merchant acquiring plus consumer finance applications. Network International provides consultancy services ranging from planning and designing, to developing of new card and consumer finance products and services.

Network International is the first independent vendor certified by both Visa & MasterCard for card payments in the Middle East. It is the UAE's largest payment acquirer for Credit & Debit Cards and the largest third-party processing vendor which is capable of providing banks, the retail industry and financial institutions with complete EMV certified solutions as they migrate to EMV Smart Card technology. For more information please visit www.network.ae

Media Contacts:
Anu Bhatnagar
Strategic Solutions for VRL
Email: anu@strategicsolutionsonline.com,
Tel: 9714 390 30 30
Mobile: 97150 72 86 803
http://www.mercatoradvisorygroup.com/

© Press Release 2011