PiSlice collaborates with du to increase funding for MENA's micro entrepreneurs finance instituitions

Dubai, UAE,  16 March 2014: Pi Slice, the first web-based social platform of online funding for micro-entrepreneurs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), is proud to announce du as its first partner continuing the company’s commitment to help create jobs in MENA. As part of the partnership, du and Pi Slice have launched a ‘lending page’ to encourage the wider community towards micro-lending. This page will feature a list of unique MENA based projects that are in need of finance and choose to provide support to the project of their choice.

The Pi Slice lending platform allows individuals and companies  to be linked with regional micro-finance institutions (MFIs), who, in turn, distribute the funds as micro-credit to pre-selected entrepreneurs. In this way, motivated individuals and companies can help MENA’s MFIs to build a sustainable future for micro-entrepreneurs, as well as a favourable ecosystem for development at the macro level. To find out more, click here: http://www.pi-slice.com/en
As a responsible UAE-based company, du has always been a keen supporter of entrepreneurship and small-medium enterprises (SMEs) adopting a 360 degree approach. In addition to providing start-ups with affordable, value-added telecommunications solutions, such as The Entrepreneur Plan, Business Advantage Plan and Her Business Super Plan, the company has organized and participated in several initiatives that nurture entrepreneurship in the UAE. A leading example of this is The Entrepreneur, the region’s first reality TV show focusing on entrepreneurs, launched by du in 2012. The company also supported Shelter for a period of 3 years in order to empower entrepreneurs.

“Corporations and individuals have no access to projects that align with their social strategic goals,” said Pi Slice CEO Genny Ghanimeh. “This is exactly what Pi Slice resolves by providing transparency, accountability, access, and choice. We believe that the private sector should be able to support the fight against unemployment in a transparent, efficient, and respectful manner. Previously this was a dream, but now technology has made it a reality. We are very happy to announce our partnership with du, a company with strong leadership that has proved to be innovative, progressive and committed into social change and building impact.”

Hala Badri, Executive Vice President, Brand and Communications, du, said: “Fostering entrepreneurship is an essential part of building a sustainable future for our community, and those communities around the region. Pi Slice is an exemplary platform that takes social commitment to the next level, by connecting those who can make a difference with those who need assistance. Together with Pi Slice, we hope to make a significant impact on the lives of people across the region, who will benefit from contributions from socially- and sustainable-conscious companies and individuals.”