Mobilink Bank, Hashoo Foundation sign MoU to promote financial inclusion

Mobilink Bank Hashoo

Mobilink Bank and Hashoo Foundation (HF) have joined forces to promote financial inclusion for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

This collaboration aims to empower MSMEs supported and trained by Hashoo Foundation, facilitating their entrepreneurial journey. Mobilink Bank, as part of this partnership, is dedicated to fostering the growth and success of small businesses in an ever-evolving economic landscape.

Ayesha Khan, speaking on behalf of Hashoo Foundation, highlighted the organization’s positive impact on the lives of three million people through programs such as the Entrepreneurship Training Hub and Incubation Center (ETHIC). The foundation has received multiple awards, including the International Forum (iF) Social Impact Prize, BBC Global Challenge Award, and the Clinton Global Initiatives Award, for its efforts in empowering women through various value chain approaches. One notable initiative involved training women entrepreneurs in waste-to-money conversion as part of the Sustainable Methods and Resilient Technologies (SMaRT) village project. In the past year alone, Hashoo Foundation has empowered over 12,000 women and men through collaborations with various partners.

Ghazanfar Azzam, President and CEO of Mobilink Bank, and Ayesha Khan, CEO of Hashoo Foundation and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) at Hashoo Group, signed the agreement in the presence of senior officials from both organizations. This partnership focuses on fostering an inclusive banking ecosystem by leveraging digital onboarding processes and providing entrepreneurs with access to a diverse range of essential financial products and solutions. As part of the agreement, female beneficiaries of Hashoo Foundation will also gain access to Mobilink Bank’s Bint-e-Hawwa product.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ghazanfar Azzam emphasized the transformative potential of Mobilink Bank’s partnership with Hashoo Foundation, particularly in fueling the growth of women-led SMEs and micro-enterprises. This collaboration aims to empower these enterprises, narrowing the gender gap, and fostering an inclusive economy that benefits individuals from all walks of life. By offering customized capacity-building initiatives and networking opportunities, Mobilink Bank actively supports the advancement of MSMEs, contributing to a more equitable financial landscape.

Mobilink Bank, a part of the VEON group, a global digital operator serving seven countries, is committed to reducing the gender gap in financial inclusion through its flagship sustainable initiative, the Women Inspirational Network (WIN) program. By combining their respective capacity-building programs, Mobilink Bank and Hashoo Foundation will organize collaborative events to identify and transform potential prospects into business project plans. With a shared vision of empowering women and MSMEs, both institutions are dedicated to creating synergies that foster growth and prosperity.

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