At the initiative of the Interbank Electronic Payments Center (CMI) and in the presence of its partners, a major event was held in Casablanca, bringing together the major players in the electronic payment ecosystem. This meeting enshrined a shared vision: to contribute to the evolution of the card payments landscape, strengthen trust, and accelerate the innovation and widespread adoption of electronic payment, serving a modern, efficient, and inclusive economy.
The event was held in the presence of representatives of regulators, banks, payment institutions, SWAM, international schemes, as well as technological and financial partners and professional federations, bringing together more than 150 participants testifying to the mobilization of all the players in the ecosystem around this vision.
The CMI is part of a 40-year history of electronic payment in Morocco, initiated in the 1970s by pioneering banks and technology players, and consolidated within the framework of a common platform. Since its creation in 2001, the CMI has led 20 years of continuous innovation to build a modern national electronic payment infrastructure and democratize the use of card payments throughout the country.
With more than 80,000 equipped points of sale, more than 200 million electronic payment transactions processed in 2024 and 75% of transactions carried out contactless, the CMI has proudly accompanied the modernization of financial services in Morocco and supported the transition to a more digitalized economy.
In addition to its role as a historical acquirer, the CMI took a major step in May 2025 by becoming a neutral, interoperable and inclusive technical platform, promoting the emergence of new acquirers. The Casablanca Payment Agreement marked its public launch, bringing together all the players in the electronic payment ecosystem to share this transformation and its ambitious prospects for the benefit of the national economy.
As Rachid Saihi, Director General of CMI, pointed out: “With the Casablanca Payment Agreement, we are announcing a historic step that places innovation, trust and cooperation at the heart of the transformation of electronic payment in Morocco, while guaranteeing merchants the continuity and quality of service that are the strength of CMI.”
In line with this vision, acquisition activity by new players is already a reality.
The first CMI partners – Al Filahi Cash, Attijari Payment, Damane Cash, Lanacash, M2T, Saham Paiements and CDM Pay – have launched their electronic card payment acquisition services, whether on EFT or online, while four other acquirers are currently in the approval process.
From the pilot phase, 2,000 merchants were affiliated, with volumes steadily increasing week after week. Seven acquirers were operational in less than six months, a particularly short timeframe for this type of project, which usually takes several years. This achievement is the result of a collective effort involving all stakeholders. This success illustrates a pragmatic approach: capitalizing on existing systems while opening up competition to accelerate market coverage and create the conditions for the sustainable development of national electronic payment.
The CMI noted that this transformation has had no impact on existing merchants and customers, who continue to benefit from the same quality of service and optimal commercial conditions. On the contrary, this development paves the way for new innovations and a wider choice of acquiring solutions, strengthening competitiveness and proximity for the benefit of the entire market.
Now a multi-acquirer platform, CMI will focus its efforts on further innovation through the continuous enrichment of its payment services, in order to offer payment experiences adapted to the needs of acquirers and their merchants, while remaining at the forefront of global trends in the field of payments.
The Casablanca Payment Agreement has revealed a new dynamic underway: building an open electronic payment infrastructure, strengthening cooperation between stakeholders and accelerating the spread of card payments in all sectors of the economy.
The 2026 milestones will focus on expanding the innovative services available to acquirers and their merchants, providing enhanced support to merchants to encourage their adoption and improve their experience, and consolidating an infrastructure that is increasingly inclusive, interoperable, and aligned with global standards. The CMI and its partners intend to continue their role as catalysts in building a more modern, competitive, and universally accessible electronic payment market.
“Our ambition is clear: to continue our role as a catalyst in building a modern, competitive, and universally accessible electronic payment market. With our partners, we are fully integrating this dynamic into the Digital Morocco 2030 strategy, which places innovation, inclusion, and digitalization at the heart of the country’s transformation,” concludes Mr. Rachid Saihi, Director General of CMI.
