UnionPay, iPay Expand Online Payment Services For Consumers

UnionPay International (UPI), the card scheme with the world’s largest cardholder base, has partnered with Kenya’s iPay to enable its cardholders to access over 8000 online merchants across Africa.

The partnership will see UPI cardholders hold transactions with big African brands that include Jumia, Glovo, Dominos, Decathlon, National Museums of Kenya, Ramtons Electronics, MyDawa, Urban Coffee, the Africa Legal Network as well as banks, restaurants and entertainment clubs and churches.

Mr. Luping Zhang, General Manager at UnionPay International Africa Branch, sees the completion of this project as “another milestone in UnionPay’s expansion on the continent”. He further stated that “We believe that it is imminent for the public to understand the benefits of digital payments, beyond reducing physical contact during this difficult time,  smooth payment services and attractive promotions are key to fostering this understanding.”

UPI has experienced an increased global online transaction of about 20% as more people are adopting digital payments to minimize physical contact and cash handling amid the global pandemic.

Commenting on the partnership, the Managing Director at iPay, Mr. Philip Nyamwaya, noted that this partnership is another feather in the cap of the varied and flexible payment channels that eLipa already offers.  “This partnership underscores our vision to continue to be a trusted and sought-after payment processor of choice within the African continent and beyond. The addition of UnionPay was therefore firmly within our strategic vision; seeing the rapid uptake of this card scheme globally and across Africa,” said Mr. Namwaya.

At present, UnionPay cards are widely accepted in Africa in all sectors, effectively meeting the diverse purchasing needs of UnionPay cardholders visiting and living in the region.

In recent years, UPI has expanded its acceptance network to 178 countries and regions, with more than 8.4 billion UnionPay cards issued in 61 countries and regions.

In Africa, UnionPay cards have been issued in over 10 African countries and regions, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, South Africa, and Mauritius. The Nilson Report(Issue 1154) shows that UnionPay ranks first among all card schemes worldwide in terms of card issuance and transaction volume.

iPay (www.ipayafrica.com) is an innovative payment services provider helping Africa-focused merchants and businesses to receive payments online or in-store via an online or point-of-sale transaction processing gateway.