Taking a global approach

Abstract

With the global plastic cards market continuing its massive growth, industry associations are providing a major platform for the cards industry to share ideas, educate end users, engage in standards work and lobby government. Fifteen years after the International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA) was born, Jeffrey E. Barnhart, co-founder and executive director of the association, takes a look at how the cards industry has evolved and examines the role the ICMA has played in this development.