Visa Everywhere Initiative tasks startups with solving today’s most pressing payments and commerce challenges, with monetary prizes, global exposure, and validation from one of the world’s most trusted brands Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Visa Everywhere Initiative (VEI), a global open innovation competition that sees startups pitch their innovative solutions …
Read More »South African president pledges to reform visa regime to boost foreign investment
Johannesburg, South Africa | Xinhua | South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday said that they will announce a significant overhaul of the country’s work visa system in a bid to further boost investment. “This includes decentralizing the adjudication of visa applications to foreign missions and streamlining application requirements to …
Read More »China visa application center opens in Ethiopia’s capital
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Xinhua | The Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia on Friday inaugurated the China visa application center in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. According to a statement from the Chinese Embassy, the newly inaugurated visa application center is responsible for handling some consular document applications and consular authentication, as …
Read More »Uganda drops on Africa Visa Openness Index
Rwanda is ranked best in EAC Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | African countries are increasingly making better progress in their freedom of travel policies, most of which had been severely curtailed by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the 2022 Africa Visa Openness Index. The annual publication, prepared by the African …
Read More »Smaller nations drive Africa’s push towards visa-free travel era
More African states are liberalising travel for their peers, indicating a positive trend towards more open travel policies on the continent. Johannesburg, South Africa | BIRD AGENCY | Africa is moving toward greater integration as more states make progress in their freedom of travel policies, the latest edition of the …
Read More »ICT Minister Kabbyanga hails Ugandan innovators as he launches Xente Visa Business Cards
Xente Launches Visa Business Cards in Partnership with Visa Kampala, Uganda | LOUIS JADWONG | Godfrey Kabbyanga Baluku, State Minister for ICT and National Guidance, has said that by Xente attracting a partnership with Visa – the world’s leader in digital payments – Ugandan innovators have shown they can have an …
Read More »EU FMs agree to suspend visa facilitation agreement with Russia
Prague, Czech Republic | Xinhua | Foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) member states have agreed to suspend a visa facilitation agreement the bloc has with Russia, the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said on Wednesday. “We agree today with EU foreign ministers on full suspension of the EU-Russia visa …
Read More »‘Digital transactions set to change consumer behaviour for good’
NSSF in partnership with VISA and Centenary Bank unveiled the smartcard for its member, a first in Sub-Saharan Africa. Thembeka Ngugi, Senior Director, Marketing – Sub Saharan Africa, Visaspoke to The Independent about the latest innovation and the digital transaction space. ****** What does this partnership between VISA, NSSF and …
Read More »NSSF unveils first social security Smart Card in East Africa
The new card will replace the laminated membership cards with more functions allowing members access more services Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s National Social Security Fund in partnership with Visa and Centenary Bank on June.16 unveiled a three-in-one social security smart card that embeds NSSF functionality, bank functionality and …
Read More »Putin signs decree on retaliatory visa measures for citizens from “unfriendly countries”
Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree introducing visa restrictions for citizens from “unfriendly countries,” a decision made in retaliation to hostile measures taken by the European Union, the Kremlin said Monday. According to the decree, Russia will partially suspend its simplified visa agreements with EU …
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