Q&A: All you need to know about Meeza, Egypt’s new payroll payment system

Q&A: All you need to know about Meeza, Egypt’s new payroll payment system

Egypt entered the second pilot stage of Meeza cards in February. The new system replaces state employees' payroll cards.

Here is what you need to know about Meeza.

Q: What is the system of Meeza cards?

A: Meeza is part of Egypt's strategy aimed at digital transformation and financial inclusion. It is also called the national payment card. It targets replacing state employees' payroll cards with Meeza by the end of 2021.

Q: When was the system approved?

A: It's been under consideration since 2005, including negotiations with banks eligible to issue the cards.

It was targeted to replace payroll cards by the end of 2019, but this was delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Q: What is the framework of the system?

A: In September 2018, Egypt's National Council of Payments issued Resolution 2/2018 that approved the adoption of a national trademark payment system to disburse governmental payments as well as in-kind and cash subsidy disbursements.

On 6 August, 2019, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) Tarek Amer instructed the banks to embark on the process.

In 2020, a circular, 133/2020, was sent to accounting units in state bodies clarifying the required procedures in preparation for