Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: Visa, a world leader in digital payments, in collaboration with Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB) and Monsha'at, announced the launching of the third edition of its global advocacy program She’s Next in Saudi Arabia.
This year, the program focuses on supporting women entrepreneurs in the fashion industry through grants, mentorship, and training, according to a recent press release.
From December 3, 2024, to January 9, 2025, Saudi female fashion designers can apply by submitting a form and a sketch integrating Saudi heritage with modern inspirations on the company’s official website.
This year's edition features a dedicated mentorship segment led by renowned Saudi fashion designer Razan Alazzouni. The five finalists will be announced on January 24, 2025, and the final event and winner announcement will take place on February 24, 2025.
Ali Bailoun, Visa’s Regional General Manager in KSA, Bahrain, and Oman, said, “We are thrilled to launch the third edition of She's Next in Saudi Arabia, this time specifically empowering women entrepreneurs driving innovation in the fashion industry. Through this program, in partnership with SAB and Monsha'at, we aim to address the unique challenges faced by women in this sector, providing access to crucial funding, mentorship from renowned designer Razan Alazzouni, and resources to foster growth and digital transformation. We believe that supporting these talented women will not only contribute to their individual success but also enrich the vibrant fashion landscape of Saudi Arabia.”
Lama Ghazzaoui, Chief Financial Officer at SAB, commented: “At SAB, we believe that partnerships like our collaboration with VISA are key to driving innovation and addressing the needs of our customers and communities.”
Monsha’at commented: “We are delighted to celebrate the launch of the She’s Next program in its third edition in collaboration with Visa. This transformative initiative provides unparalleled opportunities for women entrepreneurs in fashion and other industries across Saudi Arabia.”
She’s Next is a key initiative in Visa’s mission to advance the digitalization of women-owned businesses. It introduces the inaugural Women SMB Digitalization Index in Saudi Arabia, which evaluates businesses across five key indicators: online presence, acceptance of digital payments, awareness of payment security, customer engagement, and retention. In Saudi Arabia, the index highlights that women-led businesses excel in digital payments, online presence, and security awareness.