Izdanje Srbija
Serbische Ausgabe
Izdanje BiH
Izdanje Crna Gora
News
“Better Way”, National Initiative for Cashless Payment Launched – Opportunity for 25,000 Companies to Get POS Terminals
Source: eKapija
Thursday, 18.11.2021.
11:07
Thursday, 18.11.2021.
11:07
Comments
Illustration (Photo: Pressmaster/shutterstock.com)
This initiative is a project of support to small traders and institutions to modernize their business and provide the citizens with a better and safer way of payment – by card or by mobile phone at stores, bars and restaurants and at counters throughout Serbia, says the announcement published on the website of the Government of Serbia.
Among other things, the initiative envisages support in preparing and executing a new national program for suppressing the shadow economy, increasing the awareness of the citizens and the economy of the possibilities of cashless payment and advantages compared to cash and exchanging experiences with other countries.
The main feature of the project is the development of the handling infrastructure in small and medium enterprises and at the institutions’ counters. Through a special program of subsidies, the plan is to implement up to 25,000 POS terminals at the points of sale where it has not been possible to pay by card so far, with lower compensation fees over a period of one year.
Mali emphasized that, in addition to eFiscalization and eInvoices, cashless payment was also very important to the development of a transparent economy and fair competition and added that it additionally promoted the fight against the shadow economy, whereby the procurement of 25,000 devices is planned, which the NALED and GIZ will subsidize for small entrepreneurs.
The National Initiative for Cashless Payment is a multiannual project launched by GIZ, Mastercard and Visa, in cooperation with the NALED and the Ministry of Finance, under the aegis of the development program of the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The director of GIZ Srbija, Daniela Funke, said that the development program connected the public and private sectors in the realization of projects of importance for the whole community, such as this initiative, which contributes to fighting the shadow economy and a greater financial inclusion in Serbia.
Funke noted that, in its implementation, GIZ would adhere to the principle of “no one left behind”, so as to enable the positive effect of the development of cashless payments on vulnerable social groups.
Also, the initiative is open to all interested organizations and companies from the banking, ICT and other sectors, which want to contribute to building a cashless society and realizing the goals of Agenda 2030, she said.
The National Initiative for Cashless Payment is inspired by a similar program in Poland, where 430,000 new POS terminals were implemented in over three years, that is, nearly 40% of the existing 1.1 million. The advantage over cash is in increased efficiency, reliability and security.
The director for the markets of Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Mastercard, Jelena Ristic, said that a Mastercard survey had shown that 80% of the citizens of Serbia have the possibility of contactless payment by cards and mobile phones, and that the option is most used in supermarkets, at gas stations and when purchasing clothing.
As many as 79% of the subjects point out that such payments are quicker and simpler than other ways. The coronavirus pandemic has created an even bigger need for contactless payments and that is why it’s important to support small entrepreneurs to adapt and get new clients, Ristic said.
One of the key advantages of cashless payments is the fact that the transaction is visible and recorded, unlike the transactions which use cash, where the transaction remains unnoticed by tax organs if a bill is not issued.
The business development leader for SEE at Visa, Ana Markovic, pointed out that the company’s survey had shown that an increase of digital payments by only 5% in five years could reduce the shadow economy by up to 13%.
That is why the development of a cashless society is one of the priorities we share with the state. As much as 84% of the global gray economy is represented in seven sectors, among which are retail and hospitality. I believe that, with the National Initiative, we can make a great change in these sectors, Markovic said.
As many as 79% of the subjects point out that such payments are quicker and simpler than other ways. The coronavirus pandemic has created an even bigger need for contactless payments and that is why it’s important to support small entrepreneurs to adapt and get new clients, Ristic said.
One of the key advantages of cashless payments is the fact that the transaction is visible and recorded, unlike the transactions which use cash, where the transaction remains unnoticed by tax organs if a bill is not issued.
The business development leader for SEE at Visa, Ana Markovic, pointed out that the company’s survey had shown that an increase of digital payments by only 5% in five years could reduce the shadow economy by up to 13%.
That is why the development of a cashless society is one of the priorities we share with the state. As much as 84% of the global gray economy is represented in seven sectors, among which are retail and hospitality. I believe that, with the National Initiative, we can make a great change in these sectors, Markovic said.
Tags:
Siniša Mali
Daniela Funke
Violeta Jovanović
credit card
mobile phone
bars and restaurants
counters
eFiscalization
eInvoice
bank
Comments
Your comment
Naš izbor
Most Important News
Full information is available only to commercial users-subscribers and it is necessary to log in.
Follow the news, tenders, grants, legal regulations and reports on our portal.
Registracija na eKapiji vam omogućava pristup potpunim informacijama i dnevnom biltenu
Naš dnevni ekonomski bilten će stizati na vašu mejl adresu krajem svakog radnog dana. Bilteni su personalizovani prema interesovanjima svakog korisnika zasebno,
uz konsultacije sa našim ekspertima.