Home>Media Center>Company News
The Acceptance of UnionPay Cards to Reach 90% in Tanzania within 2019
2019-04-01


UnionPay International today announced to reach a comprehensive cooperation with National Microfinance Bank (NMB), one of the largest commercial banks in Tanzania, in the sphere of acceptance, card issuance, and mobile payment service. By the end of 2019, the acceptance rate of UnionPay cards will reach 90% in Tanzania. Cai Jianbo, CEO of UnionPay International, and Albert Jonkergouw, Acting Managing Director of NMB, attended this cooperation signing ceremony.

Tanzania is a significant participant of the Belt and Road Initiative, which is also one of the countries with most abundant tourism resources in Africa. At present, more than half of local ATMs and merchants accept UnionPay cards, including tourist attractions, shopping malls, and hotels. In addition, more than 100,000 UnionPay cards have been issued in Tanzania. Currently, this cooperation between the two entities will include the following points: first, NMB will enable all its ATMs, POS terminals to accept UnionPay card within this year. Besides, the UnionPay QR code will be accepted widely. Second, all its online merchants will accept UnionPay cards as well. Third, both entities will cooperate to issue UnionPay cards in Tanzania. 

Cai Jianbo, CEO of UnionPay International, said, in answer to the close ties between China and Africa, UnionPay International continues to expand its acceptance network in Africa, while accelerating the launch of payment solutions tailored for the local market. In next step, UnionPay International will speed up the layout of Tanzanian market: first, to promote the acceptance rate of UnionPay cards through the cooperation in acceptance with local mainstream institutions. Second, to discuss virtual card issuance and e-Wallet with banks furtherly while promoting the issuance of traditional physical cards. Under this circumstance, consumers will have more payment options. Third, to share UnionPay’s experience in the construction of transfer network, support the upgrades of local payment industry infrastructure, and accelerate its inclusive financial process.

Albert Jonkergouw said that UnionPay is one of the world's leading payment brands. It is glad to cooperate with UnionPay International in the fields of payment environment construction, inclusive finance, and mobile payment service. He also hopes that the UnionPay card issuance project in Tanzania could be implemented as soon as possible to provide better payment services for local consumers and business travelers.

In Africa, UnionPay cards has been accepted in 50 countries and regions, with an overall acceptance rate over 75%. In countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Uganda and Morocco, UnionPay has almost reached 100% acceptance. Multiple UnionPay card products, including UnionPay premium cards, have been issued in countries as Mauritius, Kenya, Seychelles and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tourists are also able to make payments by scanning QR codes via the UnionPay app at some merchants in Kenya, Djibouti and Mauritius.

Company News