Visa teams up with Orange Money to transform digital payments across Africa and Middle East

Major financial services partnership aims to bring secure online payment capabilities to 45 million users, with virtual cards now available in multiple countries and expansion planned across the region.

Visa and Orange Money Group have unveiled a major collaboration to expand digital payment access throughout Africa and the Middle East, targeting millions of underserved consumers with innovative financial solutions.

The initiative has already gained traction in Botswana, Madagascar, and Jordan, with renewed agreements in these markets. Côte d'Ivoire recently joined the program with its virtual Visa card launch. The companies plan to roll out services to additional territories, including Guinea, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in coming months.

The collaboration represents a significant step toward providing accessible, secure payment options with global acceptance for users across these regions.

Through the Max it application, customers can instantly generate a virtual Visa card linked to their Orange Money account. This digital card enables immediate funding and secure transactions on domestic and international e-commerce platforms. Physical cards are planned for distribution through official Orange Money retail locations.

"Our 45 million users already conduct transactions at countless physical stores and domestic online retailers," stated Thierry Millet, who heads Orange Money Group. "Now they can generate a virtual Visa card within seconds for international e-commerce purchases. This initial phase of our collaboration will position Orange Money as an accepted payment option from global platforms to local businesses."

The initiative supports Orange Money's broader financial inclusion goals by removing barriers to digital services and enabling broader participation in online commerce, regardless of geographic location or technology access.

Ismahill Diaby, representing Visa's Western and Central Francophone & Lusophone Africa operations, emphasized the partnership's potential impact: "Combining Visa's established payment infrastructure with Orange Money's regional presence creates straightforward, reliable online payment options for individuals and small enterprises, enabling them to engage more effectively in digital commerce."