UnionPay and Pesapal Partner to Scale Cross-Border Payments and Tourism in East Africa

Quick Summary

UnionPay International and Pesapal have partnered to enable cross-border payments across 3,000+ merchant locations in Tanzania and Rwanda. This collaboration allows international travelers to use UnionPay cards at Pesapal POS terminals, facilitating seamless transactions in key sectors like hospitality and retail to boost regional tourism and trade.

How Does the UnionPay and Pesapal Partnership Benefit East African Merchants?

The collaboration between UnionPay International and Pesapal provides local businesses with the modern financial infrastructure required to tap into the lucrative China-Africa trade corridor. By integrating UnionPay into Pesapal’s EMV-compliant POS terminals, merchants in Tanzania and Rwanda can now accept both contact and contactless payments from one of the world’s largest cardholder bases.

• 3,000+ new locations enabled for UnionPay acceptance across the region.
• Seamless tap-to-pay technology integrated for faster checkout experiences.
• High-value consumer access targeting Chinese tourists and global business travelers.

This integration effectively removes cross-border payment friction, allowing SMEs and large-scale retailers to capture revenue that was previously hindered by limited payment options. The rollout focuses on high-growth digital economies, ensuring that local hospitality and petroleum sectors are equipped for international commerce.

What Impact Will This Have on Regional Tourism and Trade?

As East Africa sees a surge in international arrivals, particularly from China, the ability to process cross-border payments becomes a critical economic driver. The partnership ensures that UnionPay cardholders can spend with confidence and efficiency at restaurants, transport hubs, and lifestyle merchants. By reducing transaction barriers, the initiative directly supports the region's goal of becoming a premier global tourism destination.

"Tourism and cross-border commerce continue to play a major role in East Africa's economic growth, particularly in Tanzania," said Bupe Mwakalundwa, Country Manager at Pesapal Tanzania. "By enabling UnionPay POS acceptance across our merchant network, we are equipping local businesses with the modern financial infrastructure needed to better serve international travellers, helping them thrive in the global digital economy".

Why is UnionPay Expanding its Footprint in Tanzania and Rwanda?

UnionPay International is aggressively expanding its global acceptance network, which currently spans 183 countries. The focus on Tanzania and Rwanda reflects the strategic importance of the East African market in the broader African fintech landscape. By partnering with a local leader like Pesapal, UnionPay ensures its services are secure and cost-effective for both the cardholder and the merchant.

"UnionPay International remains deeply committed to expanding seamless payment acceptance across Africa's key tourism and commercial markets", said Feng Chen, General Manager UnionPay International Africa Region. "Through our partnership with Pesapal, merchants in Tanzania and Rwanda can now provide international visitors with a trusted and secure payment experience while benefiting from increased access to global consumer spending."

FF NEWS TAKE:

This partnership significantly moves the needle for cross-border payments in East Africa. By connecting 3,000 merchants to the UnionPay network, Pesapal is not just adding a payment method; it is opening a direct revenue pipeline from Chinese travelers. For the fintech industry, this highlights the growing necessity of interoperable POS infrastructure in emerging markets to capture global spending power effectively.