Dashen Bank Invests 10 Billion Birr to Support 50,000 Farmers Through Impact –Focused Initiatives

At the Ethiopian Digital Payment Conference 2.0, held today at the Skylight Hotel, Dashen Bank CEO, Asfaw Alemu announced the bank’s commitment to becoming an impact-focused institution by investing an additional 10 billion birr to support 50,000 farmers.

During a panel discussion titled “From Access to Impact – Unlocking Ethiopia’s Digital Economy Through Inclusive Digital Payment Systems,” Asfaw highlighted the bank’s ongoing projects aimed at fostering inclusive economic growth. “Our pilot tests have yielded promising results, paving the way for onboarding 50,000 farmers, 300 women-led enterprises, and 10,000 merchants through our innovative Super App,” he stated.

Asfaw shared his enthusiasm following the launch of the Super App, which has successfully attracted one million active users, providing a significant boost to the bank’s initiatives. While acknowledging that merchant acceptance and QR code adoption in Ethiopia have not yet reached desired levels, he expressed optimism about the positive trends emerging in the digital payment landscape.

The Ethiopian Digital Payment Conference 2.0 (EDPC) convenes a diverse group of stakeholders, including regulators, policymakers, innovators, market players, and payment service providers, all focused on advancing digital payment systems in Ethiopia.

In his opening remarks, Eyob Tekalign (PhD), Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, emphasized the rapid progress of Ethiopia’s digital payment journey. He noted that the country is experiencing one of the fastest advancements in Africa, with digital transactions beginning to surpass cash transactions for the first time in its history.