Global payments giant Mastercard is accelerating its footprint in Ethiopia’s fast-evolving fintech landscape, signing a series of strategic agreements with StarPay Financial Services S.C. and Choice Microfinance Institution S.C. in a move set to reshape the country’s digital payments and financial inclusion agenda.
At the center of the announcement is a Reseller Partnership Agreement between Mastercard and StarPay, positioning the fintech firm as a key distributor of Mastercard’s payment solutions in Ethiopia. Under the deal, StarPay will market, distribute, and resell Mastercard’s products, bridging global payment infrastructure with local market access. The collaboration is expected to expand digital payment adoption, empower merchants, and unlock seamless cross-border transaction capabilities for Ethiopian businesses and consumers.
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The partnership reflects a broader strategy: combining Mastercard’s global technology stack with StarPay’s local expertise to accelerate Ethiopia’s transition toward a digitally driven economy. It also comes at a time when demand for interoperable and internationally connected payment systems is rising across the country.
In parallel, Mastercard signed another agreement with Choice Microfinance, widely recognized as Ethiopia’s first fully digital microfinance institution, to roll out Mastercard-enabled financial services. The initiative will focus on expanding access to digital credit and inclusive banking solutions, targeting underserved segments and deepening financial inclusion.
Both StarPay and Choice Microfinance operate under the umbrella of EagleLion System Technology Group, signaling a coordinated push to build an integrated digital finance ecosystem, from payments to lending, within Ethiopia.
The agreements were formalized during a joint signing ceremony attended by senior executives from Mastercard and EagleLion. Shehryar Bakht Ali, Senior Vice President and Country Manager for East Africa at Mastercard, signed on behalf of the company alongside Ledetu Tekle, CEO of StarPay. Other key attendees included Elfagid Aregahegne and Kasaye Eshetu, underscoring the strategic importance of the Ethiopian market.
In a moment highlighting the growing recognition of local innovation, Mastercard also presented its “Excellence in Fintech” award to Bersufekad Getachew Amare, founder and CEO of EagleLion, for his contributions to advancing Ethiopia’s fintech sector.
The developments build on StarPay’s recent launch earlier this year, which was conducted in partnership with the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, a move that laid the groundwork for its rapid integration into the country’s financial ecosystem.
Together, these partnerships signal more than just product expansion, they mark a structural shift toward a more connected, inclusive, and technology-driven financial system in Ethiopia, where global platforms and local innovators are increasingly working hand in hand.
