Visa at GITEX Africa: Next-Gen Payments
Visa showcases vision for cashless cities and highlights commitment to financial inclusion
Visa's presence at GITEX Africa 2024 was a testament to the payment leader’s innovative spirit and commitment to digitizing economies and supporting financial inclusion globally.
The highlight was Visa’s Cashless Medina (or ‘city’ in English) concept booth, showcasing a blend of Moroccan culture and digital payment technology. Visitors were able to see demonstrations of how advanced contactless payment solutions such as Tap to Phone - which reduces the cost and eases the ability of MSMEs and SMEs to accept digital payments - could work in the setting that recalled the experience of shopping for souvenirs from local Moroccan artisans. Other innovative payment solutions such as Visa’s Virtual Mall, and several other product demos were showcased at the booth giving visitors who included senior government officials, technology leaders, media and even students, an insight into the digitization opportunities available to merchants, governments, financial institutions, and consumers.
Visa executives engaged in discussions on the future of commerce and technology. Visa’s Head of Government Engagement, GCC & North Africa, Levant, and Pakistan, Raed Hergli was hosted in a fireside chat on Sustainable Finance, and Head of Government Solutions, Central Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Svyatoslav Senyuta took part in a panel on ‘How to Achieve a Cashless Africa’. Both provided valuable insights into the role of finance in promoting social equity and the collaborative efforts required to advance the continent and region’s cashless agenda.
Visa also shared the space with 32 fintechs from the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator Program who were provided individual spaces to showcase their solutions and network with industry insiders as part of Visa’s commitment to provide these fintech startups with the necessary resources and support to innovate and grow.
Visa’s presence at this key industry event strengthened the visibility of Visa’s resolve in supporting Africa’s digitization goals and cemented Visa’s commitment to the public and private sector.