Arifpay has signed agreements with Visa and technology provider AVICOM to deploy 10,000 smart payment terminals to small and medium-sized enterprises across Ethiopia, marking one of the largest coordinated efforts to expand digital payment acceptance in the country.

Under the agreement, Visa will finance the acquisition of the terminals, while AVICOM will serve as the hardware supplier. Arifpay said the initiative aims to help merchants transition from cash-based operations to interoperable digital systems.

The new devices will accept multiple payment types on a single terminal, including domestic cards routed through EthSwitch, local mobile wallets, and international cards such as Visa. Arifpay said this capability will allow many SMEs to take international payments for the first time, potentially widening access to revenue from tourists and the Ethiopian diaspora.

According to the company, the Android-based terminals will also provide digital receipting, sales tracking tools, and access to a cloud-based Terminal Management System for remote updates and monitoring.

“This is a milestone moment for Arifpay and for Ethiopian commerce,” said Rediet Tsigeberhan, the company’s chief executive. “The financing from Visa shows their commitment to Ethiopia’s growth, and AVICOM will deliver the hardware required for a reliable nationwide network.”

Yared Endale, Visa’s country manager said the partnership reflects the firm’s interest in strengthening Ethiopia’s payment infrastructure. “By financing these terminals, we are investing directly in economic infrastructure and supporting financial inclusion for SMEs,” the representative said.

AVICOM’s general manager said the company will supply the terminals under the technology agreement signed at the event.