UnionPay
International (UPI), the card scheme with the world’s largest
cardholder base, has responded to the global fight against COVID-19 by
working with its partners to increase consumer access to key online
services. Today, UPI announced that the successful integration of
UnionPay Online Payment (UPOP) with eLipa recently has enabled UnionPay
cardholders to access over 8000 online merchants across Africa.
In recent years, UPI has
expanded its acceptance network to 179 countries and regions, with more
than 8.4 billion UnionPay cards issued in 61 countries and regions. In
Africa, UnionPay cards have been issued in over 10 African countries and
regions, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, South Africa and
Mauritius. The Nilson Report (Issue 1154) shows that UnionPay ranks
first among all card schemes worldwide in terms of cards issuance and
transaction volume.
eLipa
is an innovative payments processing solution and payment gateway for
Africa-focused merchants, helping businesses to receive payments online
or in physical shops via an online/point-of-sale transaction processing
gateway. eLipa serves a large clientele in private, public and
non-profit sectors. These include leading brands like Jumia, Glovo,
Dominos, Decathlon, National Museums of Kenya, Ramtons Electronics,
MyDawa, Urban Coffee, as well as banks, churches, entertainment clubs
and restaurants, the Africa Legal Network among others. This business is
carried out in Kenya as iPay (www.ipayafrica.com). eLipa also operates
in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Togo, with more countries lined up for
entry.
UPI has seen an increased global online
transaction by around 20%, as more people are adopting digital payments
to minimise physical contact and cash handling amid the global pandemic.
In
order to support the African customers to fight against COVID-19 and to
sustain the adoption of digital payments, UPI is optimising its
“contactless” payment services, including online and mobile payment
services.
Mr. Luping Zhang, General Manager at
UnionPay International Africa Branch, sees the completion of this
project as “another milestone in UnionPay’s expansion on the continent”.
He further stated that, “We believe that itminimisetant for the public
to understand the benefits of digital payments, beyond reducing physical
contact during this difficult time. And smooth payment services and
attractive promotions are key to fostering this understanding.”
Commenting
on the partnership, Philip Nyamwaya, Group Managing Director at eLipa
noted that this partnership is another feather in the cap of the varied
and flexible payments channels that eLipa already offers. He stated
that, “This partnership underscores our vision to continue to be a
trusted and sought-after payment processor of choice within the African
continent and beyond. The addition of UnionPay was therefore firmly
within our strategic vision; seeing the rapid uptake of this card scheme
globally and across Africa”.
At present,
UnionPay cards are widely accepted in Africa in all sectors, effectively
meeting the diverse purchasing needs of UnionPay cardholders visiting
and living in the region.