CEO Frehiwot Tamru met with a Visa Inc. delegation led by Michael Berner, senior vice president and head of the South and Eastern Africa Regions.

Ethio telecom is stepping up its efforts to promote financial inclusion as it continues to work with global technology payments businesses.

Yesterday, CEO Frehiwot Tamru met with a Visa Inc. delegation led by Michael Berner, senior vice president and head of the South and Eastern Africa Regions, to discuss potential collaboration opportunities in international digital financial services.

The meeting with Visa yesterday focused on the performance of the country's first wallet-based Virtual Visa Card, as well as expanded remittance services through Visa Direct and telebirr Remit, launched in August 2024.

This comes only a few weeks after Ethio Telecom had a similar conversation with MasterCard about using the telco's telebirr platform to improve digital banking services across Ethiopia.

The Visa discussions yesterday focused on the current performance of remittance services as well as the expanding market potential, especially in light of recent macroeconomic reforms.

Customers' feedback on the recently remittance services was also evaluated in order to improve the service even further.

The negotiations also centred on using the strengths of Ethio telecom's telebirr technology in conjunction with Visa Inc.'s vast worldwide network.

CEO Frehiwot emphasised telebirr's extensive reach, as well as its strong, secure infrastructure and capabilities.

Recognising the success of previous engagements, the Visa Inc. delegation highlighted the market's considerable untapped potential.

They pushed for the implementation of innovative international services, emphasising the need to "break the boundary."

Finally, both sides agreed to form a joint steering group to explore new collaboration opportunities, considerably improve innovative digital financial solutions, increase financial inclusion, and foster a digital society in Ethiopia.