MetLife and MetLife Foundation have signed a partnership with Kiva, a leading non-governmental organisation that will support entrepreneurs around the world through Kiva’s online crowd-funding platform.

MetLife’s 5,200 employees in its Europe, Middle East and Africa region have been invited to direct a $25 loan to help entrepreneurs start, sustain and grow their businesses, said a statement.

The initiative has been funded by MetLife’s charitable organisation, MetLife Foundation, which is committed to building financial inclusion globally.

To help meet this commitment, MetLife Foundation is investing $200 million over five years in pursuit of that mission with the goal of impacting the lives of more than two million people, it said.

Michel Khalaf, MetLife EMEA president and MetLife Foundation board member, said: “This exciting new partnership is a simple and effective way to make a difference to the lives of thousands of entrepreneurs and their families around the world.

“It also offers MetLife employees a unique, innovative and engaging opportunity to get involved and help build financial inclusion in countries that often lack access to formal financial services of any kind.”

Theo Alexandrescu, general manager - MetLife Gulf, said: “We are very proud to offer our more than 500 employees in our Gulf markets the opportunity to participate in such an important new initiative supporting entrepreneurs globally. This is a direct and practical way of making a very real difference to people’s lives.” - TradeArabia News Service