HiPipo Joins COMESA Business Council to Advance Regional Digital and Financial Inclusion
HiPipo is proud to announce its full membership in the COMESA Business Council (CBC), a partnership set to drive profound digital and financial inclusion across the 21-member COMESA region. The membership certificate was officially handed over by the CBC Chief Executive Officer, Teddy Soobramanien, at the CBC headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia.
During the ceremony, Mr. Soobramanien warmly welcomed HiPipo to the COMESA Community, recognizing the transformative potential of the Include Everyone program. With a population of over 600 million people across the COMESA region, he emphasized that HiPipo’s initiatives could significantly boost digital transformation, ensuring even the most remote communities gain access to inclusive financial and digital services.
HiPipo CEO Innocent Kawooya highlighted the importance of this partnership in advancing the organization’s mission. “This development smoothens the collaboration between HiPipo and CBC, enabling us to scale the Include Everyone program across the COMESA region,” he noted.
For over two decades, HiPipo has pioneered digital and financial inclusion, touching millions of lives through impactful initiatives such as:
- Women in FinTech and Incubator Program – Empowering women entrepreneurs with tools and skills to succeed in the digital economy.
- 40Days40FinTechs – Showcasing innovative FinTech solutions from across Africa.
- Digital Financial Inclusion Summit – Bringing stakeholders together to share strategies for inclusion.
- Digital Impact Awards Africa – Recognizing and celebrating digital excellence.
The partnership with CBC is set to unlock transformative opportunities by leveraging HiPipo’s expertise and CBC’s regional influence. Key areas of impact include:
- Scaling Last-Mile Inclusion: With HiPipo’s programs now integrated into CBC’s wider network, millions more people in underserved regions will gain access to digital and financial tools.
- Enhancing Cross-Border Trade: Innovative solutions co-developed by HiPipo and CBC will address bottlenecks in cross-border trade, starting with the Mwami/Mchinji one-stop border post. This will simplify processes, promote efficiency, and empower small businesses to thrive in regional markets.
- Supporting Regional Innovation: Through initiatives like Women in FinTech and the Incubator Program, the partnership will promote entrepreneurial growth, equipping innovators with the resources to scale their solutions regionally.
- Strengthening Policy Advocacy: HiPipo’s membership will amplify efforts to influence policies that prioritize inclusion, ensuring that financial systems are accessible and beneficial to all.
This partnership reflects a shared vision between HiPipo and CBC to bridge gaps in digital and financial inclusion, leaving no one behind. By combining HiPipo’s grassroots impact with CBC’s strategic reach, the collaboration is set to drive real, measurable change across the COMESA region.
HiPipo reaffirms its commitment to Include Everyone. Together with COMESA, they are paving the way for a more inclusive, digitally empowered future.