Ethio telecom and Visa Inc. (Visa) have reaffirmed their commitment to shaping Ethiopia’s digital economy through enhanced collaboration in international digital financial services.
In a high-level strategic meeting, Ethio telecom CEO, Frehiwot Tamru, welcomed a Visa delegation led by Michael Berner, Senior Vice President and Head of South and Eastern Africa Regions. The dialogue centered on strengthening the partnership between the two organizations, particularly following the successful launch of Ethiopia’s first wallet-based Virtual Visa Card and the introduction of cross-border remittance services through Visa Direct and telebirr Remit in August 2024.
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The two parties reviewed the current performance of these services, including user adoption and customer feedback, as well as Ethiopia’s evolving macroeconomic landscape, which has presented new growth opportunities in digital finance. Tamru highlighted the scalability and security of the telebirr platform, which has already demonstrated exceptional nationwide reach.
Berner and the Visa team acknowledged the promising results of existing collaborations and emphasized the significant market potential yet to be tapped. They stressed the importance of co-developing new international services to “break the boundary” of traditional financial systems and advance the digital economy.
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Following the discussion, both parties agreed to establish a joint steering committee to identify and implement innovative digital financial solutions. The initiative will also aim to enhance financial inclusion and support the broader vision of a digitally empowered Ethiopian society.
This renewed partnership aligns with Ethiopia’s national digital transformation agenda and reflects the shared ambition of Ethio telecom and Visa to drive inclusive, forward-looking financial services across the country.
