“Costs Could Reach 25%”: FMAS:25 Panel Urges Cheaper Cross-Border Solutions for Africa's $50B Remittances
As Africa races ahead in digital finance, a panel of speakers gathered at Finance Magnates Africa Summit 2025 to assess the continent’s trajectory—from inclusion to innovation. Titled “Pay it Forward: Africa’s Leap Toward Digital Finance,” the session offered a panoramic view of the region’s payment progression, framed by both optimism and realism.
Moderated by Hannalie Marsh, Ambassador of Women in Payments Africa, the discussion featured Gabriel Swanepoel, Country Manager for Southern Africa at Mastercard. Their message was clear: Africa’s digital moment is now, but execution must match ambition.
From Access to Impact
The panel opened by examining Africa’s unique demographics, a youthful population and diverse regulatory patchwork, which together present both a challenge and a catalyst.
“Convergence is key,” the panel noted, urging a shift in narrative. “The question is no longer just about smartphone penetration but how we meet consumers where they are in their daily lives.”
That shift, from infrastructure to impact, was central. Mastercard’s Mobilizing Access in the Digital Economy (MAiD) initiative was held up as a working model. Designed to support underserved populations, particularly smallholder farmers and women entrepreneurs. MAiD links digital identity to a store of value, turning informal commerce into a trackable, bankable activity.
“By linking digital identity with a store of value, we enable invisible trade to become visible, opening doors to credit and new markets,” the panel explained.
Fixing the Pipes: Cross-Border Payments and Remittances
While the discussion acknowledged progress, it also returned repeatedly to the persistent inefficiencies in cross-border transactions—an area with more urgency than innovation. Africa receives more than $50 billion in remittances annually, yet the cost of transferring funds across borders remains prohibitively high in many corridors.
“Costs are still high, up to 25% in some corridors, but digital solutions are driving them down,” the panel noted, citing Mastercard Move as a key enabler. The platform aims to streamline corridors and improve interoperability, long a pain point in African payment systems.
You may find it interesting at FinanceMagnates.com: “Calling All Crypto Transactions Externalization Would Be Very Limiting,” Warns FMAS:25 Panel.
E-Commerce and Real-Time Payments Take Flight
The consumer side of Africa’s digital economy is growing rapidly. With e-commerce expanding at over 30% per year, digitally native buyers are shaping market behavior and expectations. The panel pointed to Shoprite’s 60/60 delivery bikes as emblematic of this momentum.
“The Shoprite 60/60 delivery bikes are a testament to this shift,” the panel said, underscoring the region’s embrace of convenience and immediacy.
This push for speed also extends to payments. But real-time settlement brings its own challenges.
“Merchants want instant settlement; consumers want protection. The industry must align on standards,” the panel observed, highlighting the need for coordinated action across the ecosystem.
Guardrails for the Road Ahead
No conversation on digital finance in 2025 is complete without touching on AI—and its dual-use nature. Fraud, driven by increasingly sophisticated tools, is a growing threat. “As fraudsters get smarter, so must our tools,” the panel warned, urging industry-wide collaboration on security protocols and fraud detection.
Looking forward, the panel envisioned not just more digitization but a transformation of commerce itself. The rise of agentic commerce, AI-powered assistants handling transactions seamlessly on behalf of users, was flagged as a major upcoming trend.
“We are entering an era where your digital agent could make purchases, settle bills, or manage investments,” the panel said.
A Call to Keep the Momentum Inclusive
Closing the session, Marsh urged the audience to maintain the momentum—but with intent. “Africa’s digital finance journey is accelerating; let’s ensure it’s inclusive and secure.” With that, the conversation concluded not with finality but with a call to action. As Africa embraces the tools of tomorrow, it must ensure no one is left behind.
As Africa races ahead in digital finance, a panel of speakers gathered at Finance Magnates Africa Summit 2025 to assess the continent’s trajectory—from inclusion to innovation. Titled “Pay it Forward: Africa’s Leap Toward Digital Finance,” the session offered a panoramic view of the region’s payment progression, framed by both optimism and realism.
Moderated by Hannalie Marsh, Ambassador of Women in Payments Africa, the discussion featured Gabriel Swanepoel, Country Manager for Southern Africa at Mastercard. Their message was clear: Africa’s digital moment is now, but execution must match ambition.
From Access to Impact
The panel opened by examining Africa’s unique demographics, a youthful population and diverse regulatory patchwork, which together present both a challenge and a catalyst.
“Convergence is key,” the panel noted, urging a shift in narrative. “The question is no longer just about smartphone penetration but how we meet consumers where they are in their daily lives.”
That shift, from infrastructure to impact, was central. Mastercard’s Mobilizing Access in the Digital Economy (MAiD) initiative was held up as a working model. Designed to support underserved populations, particularly smallholder farmers and women entrepreneurs. MAiD links digital identity to a store of value, turning informal commerce into a trackable, bankable activity.
“By linking digital identity with a store of value, we enable invisible trade to become visible, opening doors to credit and new markets,” the panel explained.
Fixing the Pipes: Cross-Border Payments and Remittances
While the discussion acknowledged progress, it also returned repeatedly to the persistent inefficiencies in cross-border transactions—an area with more urgency than innovation. Africa receives more than $50 billion in remittances annually, yet the cost of transferring funds across borders remains prohibitively high in many corridors.
“Costs are still high, up to 25% in some corridors, but digital solutions are driving them down,” the panel noted, citing Mastercard Move as a key enabler. The platform aims to streamline corridors and improve interoperability, long a pain point in African payment systems.
You may find it interesting at FinanceMagnates.com: “Calling All Crypto Transactions Externalization Would Be Very Limiting,” Warns FMAS:25 Panel.
E-Commerce and Real-Time Payments Take Flight
The consumer side of Africa’s digital economy is growing rapidly. With e-commerce expanding at over 30% per year, digitally native buyers are shaping market behavior and expectations. The panel pointed to Shoprite’s 60/60 delivery bikes as emblematic of this momentum.
“The Shoprite 60/60 delivery bikes are a testament to this shift,” the panel said, underscoring the region’s embrace of convenience and immediacy.
This push for speed also extends to payments. But real-time settlement brings its own challenges.
“Merchants want instant settlement; consumers want protection. The industry must align on standards,” the panel observed, highlighting the need for coordinated action across the ecosystem.
Guardrails for the Road Ahead
No conversation on digital finance in 2025 is complete without touching on AI—and its dual-use nature. Fraud, driven by increasingly sophisticated tools, is a growing threat. “As fraudsters get smarter, so must our tools,” the panel warned, urging industry-wide collaboration on security protocols and fraud detection.
Looking forward, the panel envisioned not just more digitization but a transformation of commerce itself. The rise of agentic commerce, AI-powered assistants handling transactions seamlessly on behalf of users, was flagged as a major upcoming trend.
“We are entering an era where your digital agent could make purchases, settle bills, or manage investments,” the panel said.
A Call to Keep the Momentum Inclusive
Closing the session, Marsh urged the audience to maintain the momentum—but with intent. “Africa’s digital finance journey is accelerating; let’s ensure it’s inclusive and secure.” With that, the conversation concluded not with finality but with a call to action. As Africa embraces the tools of tomorrow, it must ensure no one is left behind.
