E-commerce: online payments in Morocco take a new turn

2008-01-14

Three million Moroccans who hold a bank card are now able to use them for Internet purchases. This change, which is leading the way in Africa, became a reality thanks to a technical initiative by the Centre Monétique Interbancaire.

By Rachid Jankari for Magharebia in Casablanca – 14/01/08

[Getty Images] Moroccan web users who want to make an online purchase need only provide the number of his locally-issued bank card, its expiration date and the three-figure security code which appears on the back of the card.

Since December 2007, computers, PDAs, household appliances, shoes, flights and many more items have been made available for purchase over the internet to Moroccans using cards issued by local banks.

This technological marvel has emerged through the work of the Centre Monétique Interbancaire (CMI), which has just deployed a new platform certified by Visa (Verified by Visa) and MasterCard (MasterCard SecureCode) to provide full security in the processing of online payment operations, in accordance with international standards.

"With this secure infrastructure, public and private organisations can offer their services and sell their goods online to a target population of three million bank card holders," said Rachida Benabdellah, Director-General of the CMI, an umbrella organisation for Moroccan banks.

Whilst the CMI is offering the platform as payment recipient, provision of the electronic payment terminal will be the responsibility of Maroc Télécommerce, the only e-commerce operator currently in the market, whose governing body is essentially made up of banks.

On the ground, the Moroccan web surfer who wants to make a purchase online must simply provide the number of his locally-issued bank card, its expiration date and the three-figure security code which appears on the back of the card.

The merchant, meanwhile, must pay commission to both the CMI (between 2% and 3%) and Maroc Télécommerce (between 1.75% and 2.5%), depending on the volume of electronic transactions. This has to be done before online payment is made available on the vendor's website.

"With the dawning possibility of online purchases using local bank cards, administrators, telecommunications operators and water and electricity suppliers will most certainly be the first to introduce online payment for their services," predicted Azdine Montassir Billah, Director-General of Maroc Télécommerce.

Several companies have already joined this new system, such as technology vendor "Microchoix.ma" and online shoe shop "Auderby.ma". Other companies are currently preparing to roll out online payment modules on their sales sites by the first quarter of 2008, particularly in the field of air travel.

The current year should also see a great rise in the number of locally issued bank cards, since the CMI will introduce cards bearing its logo, which will boost the number of local cards currently in circulation.

The Office de Changes has given its approval in principle for a tourist payment facility of 10,000 dirhams to be included in Moroccan cards in 2008, enabling Moroccan online shoppers to make purchases from foreign websites.