Mastercard facilitates partnerships to support women-led SMEs in Fiji

By Gloria Mathias

DUAPAY, developed by Fintech Pacific has partnered with Mastercard and ygap, and with support from the Australian Government, and accepts more local merchants into the digital economy.

Women-led micro and small business owners in Fiji are celebrating the launch of the digital mobile payment platform DUAPAY, following a successful 12-month pilot.

Developed in collaboration with Mastercard, Fintech Pacific and international development organisation, ygap, in partnership with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Business Partnerships Platform (BPP), DUAPAY is available to small business owners who have been banking with Westpac in Fiji for the past 12 months.

Through the solution, piloted in 2022 with a small group of Fijian women entrepreneurs trading at the Suva and Nadi markets, business owners will be able to accept card and digital payments easily and securely on their mobile devices.

Talei Goater, Pacific Islands Regional Manager, ygap said, “This locally led, holistic and innovative partnership champions inclusion for women vendors who traditionally face more barriers in business. We’ve provided workshops and scenarios with this pilot group of women so that they are ready and equipped to use DUAPAY. Women are empowered to grow their income, increase their financial security, support their families, and help their communities. It’s been incredible to witness.”

Australian High Commission Counsellor Andrew Shepherd said, “The Australian Government is pleased to support this initiative, which will place control of women’s income and assets in the hands of women. The payment platform will help women to save and grow their operations, and long term, the initiative has the potential to create an impact for all informal market vendors in Fiji. DUAPAY will also increase financial literacy and provide more opportunities to grow business, assets, and status.”

Ruth Riviere, Country Manager, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands, Mastercard said, “Mastercard is working to address the 30% of the Fijian population that is underserved in the financial services sector. This is being achieved through partnerships with like-minded organisations, like those that have been forged to create DUAPAY,” Riviere concluded.