E-payments see increase in first half of 2021

AMMAN — E-payments in Jordan increased by 35 per cent during the first half of 2021, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Sunday.

The number of e-payment dealers also went up by around 50 per cent compared with the same period last year.

In an interview with Petra, Amjad Sadeq, CEO of Network International, a leading payment solutions provider in the region, said that payments were "very weak" due to the COVID-19 crisis and closures, but the reopening of sectors led to "a strong" e-payment demand.

He noted that the pandemic contributed to a change in citizens' consumer behaviour and their acceptance of e-payment services.

Sadeq said that the drop in foreign travel rates contributed to the increase in e-payment transactions.

The efficiency of the Kingdom's e-payment system, led by the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ), has contributed to the availability of e-payment channels to the public and supporting public departments.