Ant International, a global digital payments and financial technology provider, “Better.” A global digital lending service aimed at supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in key markets through embedded financial partnerships.
According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), 65 million businesses – or 40 percent – in formal small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries face an annual financing gap of US$5.2 trillion.
Ant’s digital lending platform, bettr, aims to use AI and privacy-preserving computing to close this gap, increase accessibility to credit and support the growth of MSMEs.
The launch involves collaboration with Asset World Corporation (AWC), a Thai real estate group and member of the TCC Group.
The first phase will include AWC’s flagship project, “Phoenix”, a major food wholesale hub in Pratunam, which will open on 26 June 2024.
The partnership is expected to benefit sellers, buyers and AWC suppliers doing business in Phoenix both online and offline, and ultimately extend the benefits to merchants across AWC’s hospitality, retail, wholesale and commercial sectors.
Walapa Trisolat
“We are pleased to welcome AWC to the 2019 Agricultural Excellence Awards,” said Walapa Traithorat, CEO and President of AWC.
“AWC is excited to partner with Ant International on the launch of bettr.
This partnership will allow both parties to leverage their respective strengths to the fullest, enabling bettr to intuitively deliver digital lending to AWC’s ecosystem of small and medium-sized businesses across a range of platforms and engagement channels.”
Yang Peng
CEO Yang Peng Ant International Commenting on the launch of digital lending platform bettr, he said:
“We are excited to introduce bettr to SMEs and industry partners in emerging markets. This marks a major milestone in our efforts to empower SMEs around the world with innovative fintech solutions through open collaboration with regional partners.”
bettr’s mission is to make financing simpler and more accessible to the small and medium-sized enterprises that are driving new local and cross-border trade and commerce.”
