International sales and global suppliers key to ensure post pandemic business recovery and growth

Mastercard’s Borderless Payments Report 2022 has revealed over half (52%) of SMEs in Saudi Arabia are earning more money than before the pandemic, driven by digital growth and international sales opportunities.
Three-quarters (72%) saw above-global-average growth in online sales and over half (54%) are doing more business overseas.
Almost nine in ten (85%) also say the changing landscape has allowed them to source suppliers more competitively across borders – the highest proportion in the study.
With this heightened focus on international sales and global suppliers, 67% are now making and receiving more cross-border payments than they were prior to the pandemic.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 29 June 2022 – Data from Mastercard’s 2022 Borderless Payments Report has revealed over half (52%) of small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia are earning more money than before the pandemic. Online business and international sales are key drivers, with 72% recording above-global-average growth in online sales, while over three-quarters (78%) are planning to do more business internationally going forward.

The research, which covered over 3,000 small businesses from around the world, highlighted that 75% of SMEs had to make changes to their business model to survive the pandemic – with the figure reaching 76% in Saudi Arabia – whilst 59% in the Kingdom believe it has changed how they will do business forever. The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation to tap into cross-border opportunities, with over half (54%) saying they now do more business internationally.

Six in ten (61%) respondents credit cross-border payments with enabling their business to grow, making it clear cross-border payments will be a key focus for business growth in Saudi Arabia. Over two thirds (67%) said they are now making and receiving more cross-border payments than they were prior to the pandemic. In fact, almost nine in ten (85%) say the pandemic has allowed them to source more competitive quotes from suppliers across borders and 52% say using international suppliers reduces risk.

Stephen Grainger, Executive Vice President, Mastercard said: “The unprecedented disruption introduced by the pandemic has realigned Saudi Arabian and global economics, with many SMEs looking keenly towards prospects in new markets. With small businesses in Saudi Arabia and across the world growing their international customer and supplier networks at pace,

especially online, it’s crucial that financial institutions have the right cross-border solutions in place to support them. Cross-border payment systems must become faster, cheaper and more secure. Through a single point of access, Mastercard Cross-Border Services allows businesses to send and receive money safely and with the certainty they crave.”

Through partnerships with financial institutions around the world, Mastercard is empowering every business to address these issues and improve cross-border payments for both businesses and individuals. Mastercard Cross-Border Services allow people and businesses to send and receive money securely, and with upfront visibility of timings and fees to provide people and businesses with more confidence and predictability.

The full Mastercard Borderless Payments Report 2022 is available at here.