Connecting Mastercard to the growth and confidence of SMEs 

As markets emerged from the pandemic, SMEs across the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) region had different needs. Supporting them was not just about enabling business success – it was about fostering resilient communities and thriving economies.

We wanted to give SMEs a voice to share their aspirations, challenges, and needs – and enable Mastercard to deepen its understanding of how to address these needs with their partners. This initiative would establish Mastercard as a proactive, trusted ally in the SME ecosystem.

We launched the Mastercard SME Confidence Index, a comprehensive study with insights into the optimism levels of SMEs across key EEMEA markets. The findings were amplified through thought leadership, white papers, workshops, educational tools, interviews and SME spotlight features.

Much more than a once-off study, the index has become a strong proof point of Mastercard’s commitment to connecting SMEs to digital tools, technology and insights. The first edition (2021) increased Mastercard’s share of voice by 28% (year on year), while the second edition (2023) built on this with 34% increase. The third edition in 2025 recorded 39%.