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ASAPP, an Association Advancing a More Inclusive Digital Payments Ecosystem in South Africa, Joins the SME Finance Forum

  • Aug 17
  • 3 min read

The Association of South African Payment Providers (ASAPP) has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 250+ members and affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance for small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation.


“SME Finance Forum proudly welcomes ASAPP as a new affiliate. ASAPP’s work in advancing a more inclusive and competitive payments ecosystem aligns with our shared commitment to supporting innovation and expanding opportunities for SMEs. We look forward to collaborating with ASAPP and learning from its experience in shaping the future of digital payments in Africa,” said Qamar Saleem, Head of SME Finance Forum.


ASAPP participating in the SME Finance Forum will bring valuable perspectives from South Africa’s digital payments ecosystem to a global network of organizations working to strengthen financial inclusion, innovation, and access to solutions that support small businesses.


“We are pleased for ASAPP to join the SME Finance Forum and to become part of a global network committed to supporting small and medium-sized businesses. ASAPP was formed to contribute to the digitization of the economy through payments, for the broader benefit of society. Our members play an important role in enabling digital commerce, expanding merchant acceptance, and supporting SMEs through more accessible, innovative and cost-effective payment solutions. Through our participation in the SME Finance Forum, ASAPP looks forward to contributing to meaningful discussions on fair access, reduced payment costs, customer mobility, transparency and the development of a more inclusive, competitive and modern payments ecosystem,” said Lincoln Mali, President of the Association of South African Payment Providers.


SME Finance Forum: Innovation & Partnership for MSME Growth


The SME Finance Forum, backed by G20 and IFC/World Bank, is the leading global network of more than 250 members and affiliates operating in 190 countries. The network comprises SME-focused institutions providing and enabling finance and services, including banks, non-bank financial institutions, fintechs, payment platforms, development institutions, credit guarantee companies, insurers, investment funds, supply-chain players, banking and SME associations, policy advocates, regulators, academia, consulting firms, and knowledge aggregators.


Members, affiliates, and associated stakeholders benefit from learning and replicating best practices from around the world, innovating new products for growth, accessing risk mitigation tools, establishing partnerships, attracting investors, and gaining recognition among a global peer group of innovators.


Our activities include exclusive member offerings such as innovation hubs, solutions clinics, peer networks, study tours, specialized tools and training, member repositories, and partnered initiatives, as well as public resources including a library of more than 200 publications, over 500 videos, webinars, newsletters, training programs, annual awards, and flagship events. Discover the SME Finance Forum members and affiliates:


 

About the Association of South African Payment Providers (ASAPP)


The Association of South African Payment Providers (ASAPP) is a collective of non-bank payment providers and fintech participants committed to contributing to the digitization of the economy through payments, for the broader benefit of society.


ASAPP was formed in 2024 with the aim of promoting a more open, competitive, and inclusive payments ecosystem in South Africa. Its core objectives are to ensure fair access to payment infrastructure,reduce the wholesale cost of digital payments, and improve customer mobility, transparency, and choice.


ASAPP’s members play an important role in enabling digital commerce, expanding merchant acceptance, supporting small businesses, and contributing to the modernization of South Africa’s National Payment System.


ASAPP’s focus areas include fair access to payment infrastructure, reduced costs for digital payments, enhanced customer mobility and transparency, and supporting innovation, competition, financial inclusion, and the continued growth of South Africa’s digital payments ecosystem.


 


 
 
 

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