New assembly plant aims to localize payment tech and scale digital transactions nationwide
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – July 20, 2025 In a first for Ethiopia’s financial sector, local fintech firm SantimPay has unveiled a point-of-sale (POS) terminal assembly facility on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, marking a significant step toward domestic hardware manufacturing for the country’s rapidly expanding digital payments ecosystem.
The plant has an initial capacity to assemble up to 3,000 POS devices per day and is designed to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by offering terminals under a zero upfront cost model. The move is expected to lower the barrier to entry for small businesses seeking to digitize transactions amid a broader national push for financial inclusion.
Hardware Localization to Cut Import Dependency Historically, Ethiopia has relied exclusively on imported POS hardware, limiting device availability and driving up costs for merchants. SantimPay’s facility is poised to reverse that trend by assembling devices locally using imported components while developing in-house calibration and software integration capabilities.
Strategic Timing Amid Digital Payments Boom The launch comes as Ethiopia’s digital transaction volumes hit record highs, bolstered by regulatory reforms and pandemic-era shifts in consumer behavior. Mobile money accounts and card usage have surged, but physical acceptance infrastructure especially POS penetration has lagged behind regional benchmarks.
Zero Upfront Cost Strategy Targets Informal Economy SantimPay’s business model offers terminals without initial payment, instead charging fees based on usage and transaction volumes. The company believes this will encourage adoption among informal traders, taxi operators, and rural merchants traditionally excluded from the formal financial system.
Public-Private Synergies Key to Scaling Government officials attending the launch emphasized the importance of local manufacturing in achieving digital finance goals. While no public subsidies were announced, the initiative aligns with Ethiopia’s broader fintech roadmap under the Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy.
Export Potential, If Logistics Allow Executives at SantimPay indicated future plans to export POS units to neighboring markets if local production reaches scale and regional trade barriers can be navigated. For now, the focus remains on nationwide distribution and technical support infrastructure.
As Ethiopia continues its transformation into a more digitally driven economy, SantimPay’s manufacturing push could prove pivotal in democratizing access to payment technologies and embedding financial services deeper into daily commerce.