By Adedapo Adesanya
Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) and Mastercard have announced a strategic partnership to expand access to mobile financial services to be rolled out in seven countries on the continent.
These are Cameroon, Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
The collaboration is set to enable millions of Orange Money wallet holders in these pilot nations to access digital payments through Mastercard’s global network of merchants by 2025.
According to a statement, the collaboration is designed to accelerate financial access, contributing to the financial empowerment of underserved communities, with only 48 per cent of the adult population in Africa using banking services, according to the African Digital Banking Transformation Report.
This means that Orange Money customers will be able to instantly obtain a virtual or physical debit card, linked directly to their Orange Money wallets.
These cards will allow seamless payments both locally and internationally, enabling transactions with local merchants and on any website or mobile app that accepts Mastercard. Customers can easily request their virtual debit card via Max it—Orange’s Super App—and collect a physical card at a designated Orange Money Mastercard point of sale.
Speaking on the partnership, Mrs Aminata Kane, CEO of Orange Money Group, Middle East and Africa, said: “This collaboration is an opportunity to bring top-notch innovation to our customers, allow to pay with the Mastercard card linked to their Orange Money wallet when they travel internationally and give them access to online shopping all over the world, in a simple and secure way.
“By offering our users the ability to pay effortlessly with Mastercard virtual card, we open the door to a world of new possibilities and promote their financial independence.”
Adding her bit, Mrs Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President of Market Development at Mastercard EEMEA said: “At Mastercard, we are committed to advancing financial inclusion by leveraging cutting-edge technology to create meaningful, scalable impact.
“Our collaboration with Orange Money represents a significant step in unlocking the full potential of digital financial services across Africa, enabling millions to participate in the global economy. This collaboration is a testament to our vision of building an inclusive digital ecosystem that leaves no one behind.”