Pan-African fintech DigiPay has partnered with Belgian Remittance-as-a-Service provider Belmoney to launch the DigiTransfer mobile application. The new service, now live in France and Belgium, facilitates instant and secure money transfers to the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This collaboration aims to enhance financial inclusion by connecting the African diaspora in Europe with their home countries through a streamlined digital platform.
Addressing a Critical Market Need
The launch addresses a significant financial challenge for the African diaspora, particularly those from Sub-Saharan Africa who face the world's highest remittance costs. According to the Migration Data Portal, transaction fees average a steep 7.9 percent in the region. With World Bank data showing over $3.2 billion in annual personal remittances to the DRC alone, the need for a more efficient solution is clear.
A Strategic Technological Partnership
DigiPay Group, founded in 2020, has been at the forefront of developing innovative payment solutions to connect African economies. The company has already processed over 4.2 million transactions, demonstrating its robust capability in the fintech space. Its core mission is to serve unbanked populations who increasingly rely on mobile money accounts for their financial needs.
Belmoney provides the critical infrastructure for this European launch through its "plug and play" white-label platform. This allows DigiPay to operate under its own brand without undergoing lengthy national licensing procedures in each country. The partnership leverages Belmoney's secure and compliant framework, ensuring peace of mind for users sending money abroad.
The DigiTransfer Service and Future Outlook
The DigiTransfer application enables users in France and Belgium to send funds directly from their smartphones using Visa or Mastercard. These transfers are processed in under five minutes, landing directly in mobile money wallets or bank accounts in both Congos. This efficiency marks a significant improvement over traditional remittance methods that often take several days to complete.
Gachlem Ngassaki-Zoni, CEO of DigiPay, emphasized that Belmoney's platform provides the security needed to serve the diaspora community. Bruno Pedras, CEO of Belmoney, added that their regulated infrastructure is designed to eliminate compliance friction for community-focused solutions like DigiTransfer. Both leaders view this initial corridor as a launchpad for a much broader expansion across the European continent.
The collaboration between DigiPay and Belmoney marks a pivotal development in the cross-border payments landscape between Europe and Central Africa. By combining DigiPay's community focus with Belmoney's regulated technology, DigiTransfer is poised to lower costs and increase access for thousands. This partnership not only strengthens financial ties for the Congolese diaspora but also sets a precedent for future fintech innovation across the continent.