Visa has announced a strategic partnership with Chari, a Moroccan B2B e-commerce platform, to accelerate the digitization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across North Africa. The collaboration aims to bring Visa’s global digital payment infrastructure to thousands of informal retail merchants, helping them adopt and benefit from modern financial services. This initiative is set to revolutionize how mom-and-pop shops in the region operate, improving financial inclusion and economic resilience.
A Fintech-Enabled Future for Informal Commerce
Chari, known for its embedded fintech services tailored for corner shops, will leverage Visa’s expertise to strengthen digital payment capabilities for small retailers. These merchants, who have traditionally operated in cash-heavy environments, will now have access to secure and seamless electronic payment solutions. Through this partnership, Chari is set to integrate Visa’s tools to enable broader access to digital acceptance and issuance infrastructure across Morocco and beyond.
Empowering Local Merchants Through Technology
Chari’s CEO and Co-Founder, Ismael Belkhayat, emphasized the transformative nature of the partnership, stating that Visa’s support will significantly improve the platform’s financial services for merchants. By integrating Visa’s trusted payment solutions, Chari aims to enhance the day-to-day business operations of shopkeepers who form the backbone of local economies. The collaboration aligns with both companies' commitment to expanding financial access and driving digital progress at the grassroots level.
Partnership Spotlighted at GITEX Africa 2025
The partnership was officially announced during GITEX Africa 2025 in Marrakech, where Visa served as the Financial Innovation Partner. This high-profile event provided the ideal platform to highlight Visa’s ongoing investment in Africa’s fintech ecosystem and Chari’s rising influence in the region’s retail digitization. Visa’s active participation in the continent’s largest tech and startup exhibition underscores its broader ambition to lead Africa’s digital payment transformation.
Strategic Alignment with Visa’s Long-Term Vision
Visa’s collaboration with Chari is part of a broader strategic roadmap to invest $1 billion in Africa by 2027, supporting scalable fintech solutions and inclusive financial systems. By partnering with regional leaders like Chari, Visa is positioning itself at the forefront of the SME digitization wave, which is essential to unlocking Africa’s economic potential. The focus on enabling financial infrastructure for underserved segments echoes Visa’s vision of inclusive and accessible money movement across the globe.
Chari’s Role in Africa’s Fintech Evolution
Founded in Morocco by Ismael Belkhayat and Sophia Alj, Chari has quickly grown into a key player in the B2B commerce and fintech space, serving thousands of informal retailers with tech-enabled supply chain and financial solutions. The company’s unique business model bridges the gap between suppliers and retailers while embedding credit and payment services into its platform. With Visa’s backing, Chari is poised to scale its impact, not just in Morocco but potentially across other North African and Francophone markets.
The partnership between Visa and Chari represents more than just a commercial alliance—it is a catalyst for inclusive digital growth in North Africa. By empowering informal merchants with modern financial tools, the collaboration aims to foster a more resilient, efficient, and connected retail ecosystem. As Visa continues to invest in Africa’s fintech future, its work with Chari sets a promising benchmark for impactful and scalable partnerships across the continent.