South African micro-payments platform provider Ukheshe is expanding its operations to international markets, eyeing key regions such as Middle East, Europe and Asia Pacific, the company revealed today.
The move into global markets comes on the back of ramped up efforts by Ukheshe to establish and enhance key partnerships in Africa, as the continent shifts towards digital channels, products and services.
“We will continue to look for potential acquisitions in these new markets to further support Ukheshe’s growth and strategy as we pursue our goal of reaching unicorn status within the next three years,” says CEO Clayton Hayward. “Ukheshe is excited to be at the forefront of the rapid shift towards innovative digital-first solutions, especially in markets that are ripe for disruption.”
Launched in 2018, Ukheshe provides the platform and technology that supports 16 banks and fintech firms, three telcos, 3 000 billers, 200 000 merchants, as well as 18 million digital wallets and four million apps combined, which process millions of transactions every month.
According to the company, it will focus on establishing significant long-term partnerships in strategic locations within the Asia Pacific region, Europe and the Middle East.
In this regard, Ukheshe has filled key senior positions, announcing Donovan Drew as president of Asia Pacific, Paul Selibas as president for project engineering based in Europe, and Chris Pillay as VP of finance located in Dubai.
“As a B2B provider of tailor-made payment solutions, we are proud to enable truly digital-first banking, while servicing the market with relevant financial propositions and supporting organisations in their efforts to enhance financial inclusion,” says Hayward.
On the continent, Ukheshe has completed projects and partnerships in various African countries, including Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Nigeria, Malawi, Botswana, Angola, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and Ghana.
It recently inked a deal with KCB Bank in Kenya to grow its services in East Africa.
Commenting on Ukheshe’s growing African footprint, Mark Dankworth, executive director for Ukheshe Africa, says: “Our partnerships underpin a shared vision on simplicity and transparency in payments, while addressing several open loop market opportunities to boost wider consumer adoption.”
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