UnionPay Targets African Fintech Expansion Amid Rising Trade Volumes

The strategic push comes as China-Africa bilateral trade experiences rapid growth, creating an urgent need for institutional-grade payment settlement for regional exporters and SMEs. Feng Chen, General Manager of UnionPay International Africa Branch, noted that the company is acting as a catalyst for local innovators by offering open-API integrations and virtual card issuance frameworks designed to bypass traditional foreign exchange friction.

UnionPay is focusing on three core pillars to secure its footprint: global QR code routing, white-label card issuance for digital banks, and pre-built ecosystem infrastructure. By allowing local fintechs to leverage existing Banking-as-a-Service integrations, the company aims to reduce time-to-market for regional firms while connecting African merchants to global e-commerce. With UnionPay cards currently accepted in 51 African countries, the firm is doubling down on the continent to ensure its payment rails become the standard for the evolving Silicon Savannah trade corridor.