(Ecofin Agency) - Mobile operator Vodacom Tanzania has extended its Mobile Money service M-Pesa to more than 200 destinations across the world.

According to Epimack Mbeteni, the company’s M-Commerce (mobile commerce) Director, the international roll-out of mobile financial services will transform the lives of thousands of Tanzanians by facilitating payments in education, health, and various commercial sectors. It will also generate economic activities that will contribute to national development.

M-Pesa's international reach is made possible through strategic partnerships. In Africa, Vodacom Tanzania has signed agreements with several renowned companies, including Safaricom, MTN, EcoCash, and Mama Money. These partnerships give Vodacom Tanzania access to various African markets, including Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Burundi, and South Africa.

At the international level, Vodacom Tanzania has linked up with MoneyGram, WorldRemit, Remitly, and JubaExpress. All these financial alliances are federated by fintech Thunes, a payment network that enables the transparent transfer of funds across borders.

For Peter de Caluwe, Thunes' CEO, International money transfer services are essential for African economies, as they facilitate the flow of foreign currency into these countries, which has a direct impact on the social and economic well-being of Africans.

Epimack Mbeteni stressed that with such a wide portfolio of international money transfer partners, “the world is a village with M-Pesa.”