Malaysia’s GHL Systems Berhad and Japan’s JCB International Co Ltd have formed a strategic partnership to enable the acceptance of JCB cards for GHL’s merchants in Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, the companies said.
The collaboration aims to enhance payment convenience for merchants and shoppers across the three countries by leveraging JCB’s global card network, GHL said in a statement.
GHL’s merchant network includes over 480,000 payment touchpoints across various sectors in the region. The partnership is expected to significantly increase JCB card usage and accessibility, benefiting both businesses and consumers.
“This partnership not only reinforces our dedication to innovation and delivering seamless payment solutions but also highlights our commitment to simplifying payments regionally,” said Sean Hesh, Executive Director and Group Chief Executive Officer at GHL. He added:
With GHL poised to expand payment options at the merchant’s point of sale, businesses are empowered to better accommodate the anticipated surge in inbound tourist spending in 2024 and beyond.
Hiroko Michishita, Managing Director of JCB International Asia Pacific, said:
This is a milestone for JCB’s business expansion in the region since GHL has a strong presence as well as ambition to grow further in acquiring business. Leveraging this partnership, we will be able to better serve our cardmembers from across the globe with enhanced card acceptance points.
The rollout is scheduled to begin in Malaysia in the third quarter of 2024, followed by Thailand and the Philippines.
The partnership comes as the tourism industry is projected to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, with international tourism expected to surpass previous figures, driven primarily by a stronger recovery in Asia, according to a report by the UN World Tourism Organization.