Smart Banking Solutions managing director Gustav Vermaas (left) signs a
MoU which allows the newly introduced prepaid B-Pesa card to be accepted
at all UnionPay stations worldwide. Right is UnionPay International
chief representative for Africa and Middle East Li Zhixian. PHOTO | THE
CITIZEN CORRESPONDENT
By Veneranda Sumila ,The Citizen Reporter
In Summary
“I believe the product will be able to change the
landscape of Tanzania’s payment industry. UnionPay is always committed
to facilitating payment services in each country,”
Dar es Salaam. B-Pesa – the newly introduced prepaid bank grade closed loop card – yesterday signed deals with UnionPay.
The deal gives B-Pesa a wider operating territory
outside Tanzania, covering 1.6 million ATMs and over 12 million
merchants in 142 countries.
B-Pesa is a brainchild of Smart Banking Solutions (SBS) – a Tanzanian service provider for outsourced banking solutions.
The card allows a customer to transact at any
B-Pesa branded merchants, member banks and B-Pesa branded ATMs, the SBS
managing director, Mr Gustav Vermaas said at the unveiling ceremony in
Dar es Salaam on Wednesday.
This development comes barely few days after
B-Pesa was launched in Tanzania to create an ideal payment Eco system
for banks and consumers in Tanzania and Africa.
Speaking during the signing ceremony held in Dar
es Salaam, the UnionPay International chief representative for Africa
and Middle East, Li Zhixian, said his organisation partnered with B-Pesa
because both products aim at facilitating payment services.
“I believe the product will be able to change the
landscape of Tanzania’s payment industry. UnionPay is always committed
to facilitating payment services in each country,” he said.
Mr Li said the idea of partnering with B-Pesa was
also prompted by the need to use these two payment schemes to help trade
between China and Africa. According to trade records, China is the
largestTanzania’s trading partner and the second largest source of
investment. The bilateral trade in 2012 was $2.47 billion, an increase
of 15.2 per cent.
“Tanzania businessmen are eager to have a good
payment solution for their business and travel to China, which we are
preparing,” said Mr Li.
Speaking at the occasion, SBS managing director Gustav Vermaas said the partnership adds value to the uniqueness of this card.
“UnionPay has an extensive international coverage, while SBS knows African local circumstances very well,” he said
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