UnionPay International sponsors FACETS 29th edition to introduce ‘Sapphire Credit Card’

UnionPay International Sri Lanka Country Manager Crispin Wijesekera (extreme left), UnionPay International South Asia Branch General Manager Ashutosh Agrawal, Commercial Bank Managing Director S. Renganathan (2nd from right), Commercial Bank Deputy General Manager Marketing Hasrath Munasinghe presenting the first two UnionPay Sapphire Diamond cards to Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association Chairman Ahsan Refai (left centre) and FACETS Chairman Altaf Iqbal (right centre) 

UnionPay International (UPI) entered into a partnership with Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) for the 29th edition of FACETS, the flagship activity of the SLGJA supported by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and Sri Lanka Export Development Board. 

The main objective of this partnership is to issue UnionPay Asia Prestige Sapphire Credit Card. This will be a co-branded Credit Card between UnionPay and SLGJA and the card will be issued by Commercial Bank of Ceylon. This will be the first UnionPay co-branded card issued in Sri Lanka and the card was launched on the first day of this event, to the SLGJA members whom are classified as premium customers.

The FACETS 2019 exhibition was held from 29 August to 1 September at the BMICH. As UnionPay being the official card scheme partner, UnionPay cardholders enjoyed up to 50% off on gem and jewelleries from selected participating merchants during the event. 

To be issued in the UnionPay Asia Prestige Platinum and Asia Prestige Diamond tiers, these co-branded Credit Cards will provide users with many benefits. The Bank said it will waive the joining fee and the first and second year annual fees, and cardholders would also be eligible for attractive travel benefits including free airport lounge access, special international offers in China and South East Asian countries, and preferred rates on foreign transactions in any country. 

Furthermore, holders of the Commercial Bank-SLGJA co-branded credit card would be eligible to benefits under the ComBank Max Loyalty Rewards program, the only loyalty scheme in Sri Lanka that offers loyalty rewards points on both credit and debit cards.

And, the Co-Branded Sapphire Credit Cardholders will also be able to enjoy the following benefits: unlimited lounge access for Diamond cards and six times free lounge access for Platinum cards at over 1,000 airports worldwide; free global concierge services; unique privileges at tourist attractions, access to global and local discounts on shopping, dining and lodging. The launch of this new product will bring even better payment experience to UnionPay customers in Sri Lanka.

UnionPay started its business in Sri Lanka since 2006. Over the past decade, UnionPay has been committed to bringing secure, convenient and efficient payment services to not only tourists visiting Sri Lanka but also the local residents. At the end of 2018, issuance of the first UnionPay card in Sri Lanka was announced through Commercial Bank of Ceylon. 

Now local residents can apply for a variety of UnionPay card products at various bank outlets. These cards can be used in UnionPay’s global network that covers 174 countries and regions. Sri Lankan cardholders can also enjoy global privileges including special discounts, loyalty rewards and abundant benefits offered by UnionPay.