SantimPay and Visa: Pioneering Ethiopia’s Cashless Future Through Strategic Collaboration

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In a landmark stride toward Ethiopia’s digital transformation, SantimPay Financial Solutions S.C. proudly announces a strategic partnership with Visa, a global titan in digital payments, to deploy 20,000 low-cost Point of Sale (POS) devices across the nation. Formalized on September 30, 2025, during the vibrant Visa Connect Ethiopia event in Addis Ababa, this alliance marks a pivotal moment in our mission to democratize digital commerce and foster inclusive economic growth.

The Visa Connect Ethiopia event convened luminaries from the payments, banking, and fintech sectors to chart the trajectory of Ethiopia’s digital economy. As a licensed payment system operator under the National Bank of Ethiopia, SantimPay seized this platform to showcase our locally assembled POS machines, designed to empower merchants from bustling urban markets to rural storefronts. Our CEO, Tinsae Desalegn, contributed to dynamic discussions on merchant acceptance, underscoring how accessible payment solutions can bridge financial divides and catalyze socioeconomic vitality.

This partnership, Visa’s first device financing initiative in East Africa, amplifies SantimPay’s capacity to scale POS distribution, making digital payments affordable and accessible for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). By integrating our interoperable payment gateway, supporting QR codes, mobile wallets like Telebirr, and global card networks, with Visa’s financing expertise, we are equipping merchants to transcend cash dependency. This initiative aligns seamlessly with Ethiopia’s National Digitization Strategy, which aspires to universal digital payment acceptance and a 90% financial inclusion rate by 2030.

The deployment of 20,000 POS devices is more than a technological rollout; it is a catalyst for empowerment. Our devices, assembled in Ethiopia to promote industrial self-reliance, provide merchants with real-time analytics and offline transaction capabilities, ensuring resilience in connectivity-challenged regions. This collaboration with Visa not only accelerates merchant adoption but also positions Ethiopia as a fintech exemplar in East Africa, where regulatory reforms and innovative providers are reshaping economic paradigms.

As Tinsaye Desalegn articulated, “Partnering with Visa is a transformative leap for Ethiopia’s payments landscape. Together, we are empowering merchants, fueling economic growth, and advancing our shared vision for a cashless future.” With this alliance, SantimPay reaffirms its commitment to stitching communities into the digital fabric, ensuring that every transaction paves the way for inclusive prosperity.