Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Maroc Telecom has partnered with Visa to integrate Visa’s payment services into MT Cash, its Mobile Money solution. This collaboration aims to enhance financial inclusion and expand digital financial services across Morocco and Africa. The partnership will help accelerate digital payments, targeting underserved populations and boosting e-commerce growth.
Al Ansari Exchange has extended its strategic partnership with Visa to further enhance digital payments in the UAE. The collaboration aims to drive innovation, improve customer experiences, and expand digital payment solutions. The partnership has already led to growth in prepaid cards, fraud mitigation, and financial literacy initiatives.
Bangladesh’s e-commerce industry is set for significant growth, driven by the government’s “Digital Bangladesh” initiative. However, challenges like cash-on-delivery dominance, low financial literacy, and security concerns need to be addressed. Improving digital payment systems, infrastructure, and security will be key to realizing the sector’s full potential.
Visa has launched Visa+ in Bahrain, allowing users to send money across the GCC using only a mobile number. The service, available through Benefitpay and supported by Bahrain Islamic Bank and Khaleeji Bank, simplifies cross-border transfers, enhances security, and paves the way for further expansion across the region.
LB CIM, Sri Lanka’s first AI-powered digital loan and payments platform, won the “Most Popular Digital Payment Product” at the LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2025. This recognition highlights the app’s popularity driven by customer trust and its innovative features, driving financial inclusion and digital accessibility in Sri Lanka.
Khaleeji Bank has launched Visa+, a service allowing users to send money to Visa cardholders across the GCC using only a mobile number. This innovation enhances security and convenience, eliminating the need for sensitive account details. Visa+ supports peer-to-peer payments, loan disbursements, and cross-border remittances.
eSewa has partnered with Nepal SBI Bank to enable seamless electronic transactions between their users. This collaboration allows Nepal SBI Bank customers to load money into eSewa wallets and vice versa. The partnership expands eSewa’s network to 51 affiliated banks, enhancing Nepal’s digital payment ecosystem.
Moroccan startup PayTic has raised $4 million to expand into Africa, aiming to tap into the continent’s growing digital payments market. The company simplifies back-end processes like chargebacks for banks and card issuers and is well-positioned to leverage Africa’s rising internet penetration and financial inclusion rates.
HPS, a Moroccan payment solutions provider, plans to acquire a fintech firm before 2027 to accelerate growth. The company, which saw a 6.4% revenue increase in 2024, aims to expand its capabilities, particularly in AI and digital currencies, while continuing its strong presence in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Bangladesh’s e-commerce sector is growing rapidly, but the transition to digital payments remains slow due to the country’s strong reliance on cash. To foster growth, efforts are needed to educate consumers, improve infrastructure, and increase merchant adoption of electronic payments, ultimately driving the shift towards a cashless economy.