06 September 2022

Electronic payment solutions provider Visa has opened an office in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to enable the company to build partnerships and expand the general public’s access to the digital economy.

The US firm will introduce new payment credentials and solutions to further help businesses use digital payments. In addition, Visa’s chief executive officer (CEO) Alfred Kelly, said

the opening of an office in the DRC was more than necessary, as “it is one of the most dynamic countries in Africa, and we are pleased to establish a local presence. By working closely with public and private sector partners, we have a common goal of expanding access to digital commerce and supporting the goals of the DRC economy”.

Visa’s presence in the DRC will enable the company to build partnerships and expand the general public’s access to the digital economy, introducing new payment credentials, and solutions to further help businesses use digital payments. “Visa’s goal is to encourage everyone, everywhere, by being the best way to pay and get paid,” added Alfred Kelly.

During one of his visits to the country, the Visa CEO had signed partnerships with several companies such as the Central Bank of the DRC, financial institutions, fintechs, merchants and mobile operators. In the coming months, Visa plans to introduce payment credentials for more than 150,000 M-PESA customers in the DRC, but also work with fintech Infoset for its financial inclusion.

This is Visa’s eighth African office, after Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Rwanda, Kenya and Nigeria. In 2016, when it arrived in Abidjan, the American company had mentioned its desire to expand in French-speaking Africa, because of its great growth potential.