Visa , Global payments leader cements focus on Sudan through landmark visit to Khartoum

• Visas Regional President Andrew Torre will visit Sudan in a move that reaffirms Visa's commitment to working with local partners to advance and expand access to digital payments

• Visa was the first company to launch digital payments in Sudan, and is now working with eight licensed partners to bring the benefits of payments technology to everyone, including cardholders and merchants.

The Regional President for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA) at Visa Andrew Torre, will visit Sudan from 2 to 4 August. This is his first visit since the countrys first Visa card was issued by United Capital Bank earlier this year.

Torre's trip is the latest example of Visa's efforts to build new partnerships and leverage its world-class payments technology to support financial inclusion and economic growth in Sudan. Visa is already working closely with eight licensed partners in Sudan to help to allow a more inclusive and empowered economy. During the two-day visit to Sudan, Andrew Torre will meet with some existing and potential partner banks and financial institutions and top government officials to explore opportunities for close collaboration.

Torre's visit reaffirms Visa's commitment to work with the Sudanese government and local banks and partners to help make sure local Sudanese customers have access to reliable, convenient and secure digital payments that are accepted worldwide. Visas aim is to drive acceptance of digital payments through both traditional ATMs and POS networks as well as find opportunities to launch new digital products and services to Sudanese consumers and merchants.

Andrew Torre, Visa's Regional President for CEMEA said "Sudan is a country with great potential that is undergoing many positive economic developments. As a global engine of commerce, we are committed to partnering in support of Sudans transformation goals, and advancing our mission to expand access and global economic inclusion so that more consumers and businesses can enjoy the benefits of digital payments.

I look forward to meeting and engaging in constructive dialogue with key banks and financial institutions, government agencies and other economic stakeholders to see how new partnerships can be forged to build a trusted payments ecosystem that will drive the adoption of digital payments, which in turn will help solidify the country's economic expansion and development efforts.

Andrew Torre will be accompanied in his meetings by Ahmed Mohey, Country Manager for Sudan and Ahmed Gaber, General Manager of North Africa, Visa. Mohey is responsible for strategically driving digital payments expansion, building strong relationships and gaining the trust of clients, regulators and other key industry players in Sudan.

Earlier this year 2021, Sudanese Prime Minister, Dr. Abdalla Hamdok, hailed the first Visa card issued in Sudan by United Capital Bank (UCB), as a symbol of the countrys long-awaited reintegration into the global economy.