Visa Establishes Regional Hub in Tanzania to Boost Digital Payments

Visa , a global leader in digital payments, has launched a new office in Tanzania as part of its broader strategy to strengthen its presence across East Africa. The new office, located in Dar es Salaam, will serve as a regional hub overseeing operations in Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. This move reflects Visa’s growing commitment to accelerating digital transformation and financial inclusion across the region.

The office was inaugurated during the first-ever Visa Day Tanzania 2025, an event that brought together stakeholders from the financial services ecosystem, including banks, fintech firms, mobile network operators, government agencies, and development partners. The event centered on shaping the future of payments in Tanzania and fostering collaboration to support the evolution of digital financial services.

At the forefront of this regional expansion is Victor Makere, a Tanzanian national with extensive experience in the financial sector, who has been appointed as Country Manager. Under his leadership, the new office is expected to drive innovation, build partnerships, and expand access to secure and convenient digital payment systems.

Visa’s decision to anchor its regional operations in Tanzania is informed by the country’s growing mobile and internet penetration, a vibrant small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector, and ongoing national efforts to enhance financial inclusion. These factors present strong potential for scaling digital financial services and extending their benefits to more people and businesses.

As part of its local strategy, Visa is implementing several sector-specific initiatives aimed at improving access to digital financial tools. In the public sector, the company is collaborating with government agencies to digitize payments for public services, improving convenience and boosting transparency in revenue collection processes.

In tourism, Visa has enabled digital solutions for visa payments, access to national parks, and travel insurance in Zanzibar, which are expected to simplify the travel experience and support the growth of tourism-related income. In the agriculture sector, Visa is introducing platforms that facilitate digital payments for smallholder farmers and fishers, aiming to boost financial inclusion and income security in rural areas.

To enhance digital transaction security, Visa is rolling out tokenisation technology, which replaces sensitive payment data with secure digital identifiers. This initiative is part of a broader effort to build trust in digital payments and reduce fraud risks across the ecosystem.

Visa is also working to close financial access gaps for underserved populations. Through a partnership with the African Confederation of Co-operative Savings and Credit Associations (ACCOSCA), Visa is expanding digital financial services in Tanzania and Kenya, targeting women, youth, and communities that are typically excluded from formal financial systems.

Another significant innovation under Visa’s expansion strategy is the integration of mobile money into its global payments network. In collaboration with Vodacom Tanzania, Visa has launched the M-PESA Visa virtual card, enabling users to make local and international online payments directly from their mobile wallets, without the need for traditional bank accounts.

The establishment of Visa’s regional office in Dar es Salaam underscores its long-term commitment to supporting East Africa’s transition to a digital economy. By building local capacity, fostering partnerships, and promoting inclusive innovation, Visa aims to contribute meaningfully to the economic resilience and financial empowerment of communities across the region.