Tech

Mastercard seals remittances deal with SA’s Bidvest Bank

Published

12 months ago

December 5, 2023

Global payments processor,
Mastercard, has entered into an exclusive partnership with South Africa’s Bidvest Bank to provide a solution that allows customers to send international remittances at their convenience.

The new offering titled, “Bidvest Bank BidSend”, according to a release by the company, will be powered by Mastercard cross-border services, which is a real-time payment network that enables users to send money to 103 countries and allows senders to select their beneficiary’s preferred choice of pay-outs as cash, onto a mobile wallet or as bank account payments.

“Through this innovative technology, Bidvest Bank is set to transform traditional remittance channels, allowing both account and non-account-bearing consumers, to send money across borders at an affordable price,” the release stated.

“Powered by Mastercard’s world-class technology, using BidSend, users can send international payments securely knowing that their funds will be safely received by their beneficiaries in near real-time, depending on the receiving country.

“This innovative remittance platform puts payments at the user’s fingertips by providing them with familiar and easily accessible payments technology within the application”, it added.

Gabriel Swanepoel, Country Manager at Mastercard, Southern Africa, who spoke on the new solution, said one of its notable features was that users could also settle their payment transactions using either a debit or credit card at any time, offering a large network of pay-out options that made it easy for users to access, manage and control.

“Providing innovative solutions that deliver the choice, security, and flexibility that South Africans need and expect is a factor win we take pride in.

“MasterCard is delighted to collaborate with Bidvest Bank to make this level of payment ingenuity a reality for Bidvest Bank -customers allowing MasterCard to bring millions of people from underserved communities into the financial and digital economy,” he added.

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Tech

Ghana partners with The Gambia to provide free roaming services

Published

8 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana and The Gambia are in the process of launching free roaming services that will enhance a West African connectivity.

The plan which is a joint initiative of the Ghana Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation and The Gambian National Communications Authority (NCA) will see mobile users in both countries avoiding extra charges for calls, texts, and data, which in turn, is expected to boost trade, tourism, and economic integration across borders.

The collaboration, according to a joint statement by the two bodies, aligns with the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) broader push for seamless regional communication.

“Ghana and The Gambia are forging new paths in West Africa’s digital landscape, implementing a free-roaming initiative,” the statement said.

“This move strengthens regional connectivity while highlighting the role of technological collaboration in fostering economic integration. The initiative enables mobile users travelling between the two nations to make calls, send messages, and use data services without additional roaming fees.”

It further noted that by reducing these costs, the program aligns with the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative, which seeks to eliminate barriers to communication across member states.

“It is a boost for trade and travel as the free roaming plan is expected to spur economic activities by streamlining cross-border communication.

“Businesses and individuals travelling between Ghana and The Gambia can now stay connected without worrying about exorbitant charges, facilitating smoother transactions and personal interactions. The initiative is also expected to attract more tourists by ensuring seamless digital access for visitors.

“This collaboration marks another milestone in Ghana’s commitment to expanding digital connectivity, following Ghana’s successful implementation of similar agreements with Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, with talks of possible roaming partnerships with Liberia.

“By focusing on digital integration, Ghana and The Gambia demonstrate the power of technology to bridge gaps between countries. This step also serves as a model for other West African nations to join the free-roaming framework, contributing to the larger goal of a connected and economically integrated region,” it added.

Tech

Tanzania to host 6th Ocean Innovation Africa summit in February

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has been selected to host the sixth edition of the Ocean Innovation Africa (OIA) summit from February 24-28, 2025, as a flagship event within Regenerative Ocean Week.

The Ocean Innovation Africa is set to be Africa’s most significant platform for Ocean Innovation conservation, and sustainable development in the blue economy. OIA2025 will be co-organised with leading partners, including IUCN, GIZ, OceanHub Africa, Catalyze and the Ocean-Climate Platform.

With the theme, “Science-to-Solution”, the Regenerative Ocean Week will present a line-up of sessions designed to bridge the gap between scientific research, business innovation, policy, and community engagement.

According to the organizers of the event, it will bring together African ocean innovators, investors, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to explore practical solutions that can be applied across the continent.

“These include the OIA Pitch Competition, which is a platform for Africa-based startups and entrepreneurs to showcase breakthrough ideas in ocean-impact solutions, allowing them to connect with investors and industry leaders and emphasizing Africa’s role in driving sustainable ocean initiatives,” the organizers said in a statement.