ETTA Solutions PLC and VISA have announced a strategic partnership framework agreement to roll out 148,000 contactless acceptance devices across Ethiopia. This initiative marks the largest merchant digitisation programme ever undertaken in the country, bringing secure tap-to-pay infrastructure directly to small and micro-enterprises.
Designed to transform daily trade, the rollout extends beyond Addis Ababa’s major retailers to reach the neighborhood shops, market traders, restaurants, pharmacies, and transport operators that form the backbone of the Ethiopian economy.
Every device connects seamlessly to ZooryaPay—ETTA’s payment platform operating under a National Bank of Ethiopia Payment System Operator licence—and the broader Zoorya merchant operating system, which processed over ETB 120 billion in transactions over the past year.
Crucially, the hardware introduces a pioneering technical integration to the market. ETTA’s devices are certified by the Ethiopian tax authority as cash register machines and for the national e-receipt system. This makes ETTA the first company in Ethiopia to combine certified fiscal receipting, e-receipts, and international and local card acceptance into a single device.
“This is the moment Ethiopian commerce goes contactless,” said Dr. Temesgen Gebrehiwot, CEO of ETTA Solutions and Chairman of ZooryaPay. “For a decade, we have built the tools Ethiopian merchants run their businesses on. Today, with Visa beside us, we are putting a secure acceptance device into the hands of 148,000 of those merchants and connecting each one to a national rail we own and operate under licence.”
Under the agreement, Visa and ETTA will jointly finance the hardware, fund national marketing and merchant-education campaigns, and co-manage the rollout. ETTA will lead the ground-level execution, driving merchant acquisition, activation, and 24/7 lifecycle support through its national field operations.
Beyond immediate payment processing, the ecosystem solves a historic barrier for small businesses: access to credit. Through ETTA’s exclusive partnership with Optasia, every merchant on the network receives a continuously updated credit-readiness profile built from real transaction history. Local partner banks can utilise this verified data to extend working-capital loans without requiring traditional collateral or extensive paperwork.
For consumers, tourists, and the diaspora, the development means local debit and credit cards—as well as international Visa cards—can now be used instantly and safely at everyday merchants. Built on open rails, the network interoperates fully with Ethiopia’s national switch and existing financial institutions, paving the way for a fully inclusive digital future.
