Connecting Talents Transforming Lives

A NETS Social Entrepreneurship Programme to help underprivileged or disadvantaged groups achieve self-sufficiency

Singapore, Thursday, 24 July 2008 – Singapore’s leading electronic payments provider, NETS, today announced its commitment to giving back to society by supporting social entrepreneurship with the launch of its “Connecting Talents Transforming Lives” programme, to help disadvantaged groups in society develop self-sufficiency skills through entrepreneurship. This initiative is a key part of NETS’ Corporate Social Responsibility philosophy and efforts.

Commenting on the initiative, Ms Suman Balani, NETS’ Assistant Chief Executive, said, “In line with our “Connecting Talents Transforming Lives” programme, NETS has chosen to partner with non-profit organisation Social Innovation Park (SIP) to contribute to its “Pop and Talent Hub” (PaTH) Project. NETS will be named a PaTH “Significant Partner” in recognition of our contribution. NETS is sponsoring this project as it helps PaTH’s artists and craftsmen to develop their arts and crafts skills to achieve self-reliance through entrepreneurship. As the beneficiaries of the PaTH Project become budding entrepreneurs, a positive and tangible transformation is made in their lives. We believe this will contribute to the overall betterment of Singaporeans, and is another aspect of our “Make Life Great” philosophy.”

Through the “Connecting Talents, Transforming Lives” initiative, NETS aims to play its part as a socially responsible company to build value for all its stakeholders. SIP’s PaTH Project is the first non-profit initiative that NETS has chosen to support. NETS also aims to set a good example for its customers, employees and other key stakeholders to foster a spirit of volunteerism and to inspire others to give back to society.

SIP’s PaTH Project is a platform for the project’s creative artists to hone their skills by providing them with support, training, networking opportunities, as well as commercial avenues to showcase their work.

As marketplaces become more socially-aware, it is timely for NETS to support initiatives develop creative talent from marginalised groups to empower them to be self-reliant.

“We are proud that we can contribute to SIP’s PaTH project, but also to mobilise our staff and resources to support a social entrepreneurship programme to help budding entrepreneurs get started in this exciting project,” said Ms Balani.

“We thank NETS for supporting our budding entrepreneurs and value NETS contributions immensely. We hope the entrepreneurial spirit that NETS has championed will grow and that more companies and individuals will be inspired to support social entrepreneurship causes such as SIP’s PaTH project,” said SIP Director, Ms Elim Chew.