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Visa aims to redefine payment standards in the CEMEA region
via Le Matin13 min read
Visa is focusing on the CEMEA region Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa as a key area for innovation in electronic payments. This vast region presents a unique blend of highly digitized economies and those still heavily reliant on cash, offering a microcosm of future payment challenges. These challenges include financial inclusion, reducing cash usage, digitizing SMEs, modernizing banks, developing cross-border payments, fostering fintech growth, cybersecurity, and integrating new payment rails like stablecoins. Visa's regional president for CEMEA, Tareq Muhmood, notes that commerce is entering a new, more intelligent and integrated phase. The region has seen a significant shift away from cash, with its share in payments dropping from approximately 70% before the pandemic to nearly 50% today. The number of Visa ID holders in the region increased from 350 million to 480 million in two years, and the acceptance network expanded from 11 million to 21 million points. However, Visa estimates that about 90 million small businesses in the region still do not accept digital payments, representing a major growth opportunity. Shahebaz Khan, Head of Commercial Solutions and Money Movement for CEMEA, highlights that payment transformation often begins with small businesses, which need faster payments, better cash management, and easier access to financial services. Visa is addressing this with solutions like Visa Accept, which allows merchants to use their smartphones as
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Nabil Amar, CEO of Cash Plus, will be featured on the program L'Info en Face on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. He will join host Rachid Hallaouy to discuss the question of financial innovation in Morocco and when its "momentum" will arrive. The show will delve into this topic, offering insights from Amar's perspective as a leader in the financial sector.
Karim Amor, from the 13th Region of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises CGEM, emphasizes the importance of integrating Moroccan entrepreneurs living abroad into the country's economic strategy. The 13th Region, known as MeM by CGEM, acts as a bridge between Moroccan talents internationally and the national economic fabric, including CGEM member companies, other CGEM regions, AMDIE, CRIs, Tamwilcom, CCME, research institutions like UM6P, and public institutions. MeM by CGEM works closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' MRE department, both centrally and through consulates worldwide, to organize meetings and initiatives for entrepreneurs. The organization's activities include networking, economic lobbying, mentorship, investment support, and fostering business synergies. Current priorities involve transforming the interest of Moroccans worldwide into concrete projects, guiding project leaders, mobilizing international expertise, strengthening women entrepreneurs through Ladies MeM, supporting startups, and connecting the diaspora to strategic sectors such as industry, innovation, AI, health, digital, renewable energies, and regional development. Amor identifies the main obstacle to increased investment from Moroccans residing abroad not as a lack of desire, but rather the complexity of the investment process. Challenges include identifying the right contacts, understanding available mechanisms, securing projects, finding partners, financing, and remote monit
Driss El Yazami, from the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad CCME, states that Morocco needs to improve its mobilization of investment and skills from its diaspora. He notes that while remittances from Moroccans abroad reached 122 billion dirhams in 2025, their contribution to national productive investment remains below potential, accounting for less than 10% of national private investment. This suggests a persistent lack of clarity, trust, and suitable instruments, rather than disinterest. El Yazami highlights the evolving expectations of Moroccans worldwide, driven by demographic growth, increased feminization of migration, and the emergence of dual nationals. He emphasizes three key areas for the CCME's mission: addressing the challenge of transmitting Moroccan heritage to younger generations, facilitating integration into host societies, and maximizing the diaspora's contribution to Morocco's development through various means, including investment, entrepreneurship, research, and cultural initiatives. To boost investment, the CCME proposes two main solutions: implementing innovative financial instruments like diaspora bonds, which have proven successful in other countries, and significantly strengthening the connection between Moroccans abroad and Morocco's regions. A memorandum of understanding was signed in October 2023 between the CCME and the Association of Regions of Morocco ARM to enhance the diaspora's contribution to regional development. Regarding administ