EthSwitch and Mastercard Forge Strategic Partnership to Boost Ethiopia’s Digital Payment Ecosystem
The partnership reflects a shared vision to introduce secure, innovative, and globally accepted payment solutions that will benefit consumers, businesses, and financial institutions across the country.
EthSwitch and Mastercard have entered into a landmark agreement in Addis Ababa aimed at accelerating the modernization of Ethiopia’s digital payment landscape and strengthening the country’s integration with the global financial system. The partnership reflects a shared vision to introduce secure, innovative, and globally accepted payment solutions that will benefit consumers, businesses, and financial institutions across the country.
Through this collaboration, EthSwitch will gain a direct link to the Mastercard Network using the Mastercard Interface Point (MIP) as well as Mastercard’s global payment gateway services (MPGS). This connectivity will enable Ethiopian businesses to accept international payments, significantly expanding the nation’s capabilities in cross-border commerce and opening new economic opportunities.
The agreement also paves the way for Ethiopian banks to issue co-branded prepaid hard currency cards with worldwide acceptance at ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, and online merchants. This advancement will improve convenience for consumers, support financial inclusion efforts, and contribute to Ethiopia’s ongoing push toward a cash-lite economy.
