Airtel Money Africa Earns Malawi Government Praise for Advancing Digital Payments

The Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralization, Joseph Mwanamveka, has hailed Airtel Money Africa for its strong commitment to advancing Malawi’s digital payments ecosystem and supporting the country’s broader financial inclusion agenda.

The commendation came during a courtesy call by Airtel Money Africa Chief Executive Officer, Ian Ferrao, who days ago visited the company’s Malawi offices before meeting the Minister in Lilongwe.

Speaking after the meeting, Mwanamveka underscored the critical role of private sector partnerships in driving the country’s digitalization goals.

“We applaud Airtel Money’s commitment to advancing Malawi’s digital payments ecosystem. This collaboration supports our drive to modernize financial services, promote transparency, and deepen financial inclusion in line with the Malawi 2063 vision.

“We look forward to continued partnerships that accelerate the nation’s digital transformation for the benefit of all Malawians,” he said.

During the discussions, Ferrao outlined the company’s strategy to accelerate the growth of Malawi’s digital financial ecosystem through investments in technology, security, and expanded access.

He emphasized Airtel Money’s focus on job creation through its extensive agent distribution network and on building an integrated, scalable digital payments system that enhances efficiency and increases economic participation for individuals, businesses and public institutions.

Ferrao further highlighted ongoing efforts to streamline merchant onboarding, deepen payment acceptance among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and informal traders, and enhance digital payment solutions for businesses, utility providers, NGOs and government institutions.

He added that Airtel Money continues to work toward seamless integration with key government platforms to reduce reliance on cash-based transactions, while also strengthening its secure platform and raising consumer awareness around fraud to ensure safe and reliable digital transactions.

The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment between Airtel Money and the Government of Malawi to build a modern, efficient and inclusive digital economy aligned with the country’s long-term development aspirations.