By: Abdul Razack Gbla
The fastest telecommunications network and leading mobile money service provider in Sierra Leone, Orange-SL, has on Friday 18th August 2023, through its Orange Money services launched a lucrative partnership with Conex fuel station. The event took place at the Conex fuel station Brookfields, Freetown.
The ‘Pay with Orange Money at Conex Station’ is geared towards customers having to use digital mobile money to buy fuel from all Conex fuel stations in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of Conex, Mr. Avrajit Kar, stated that the Conex-Orange Money relationship will go a long way as there are promising signs. He further emphasized the significance of the partnership and the importance of digitizing Sierra Leone. He continued to highlight the convenience and transparency of using Orange Money servives for payments at Conex. “It is all about digitalising our wallets so we don’t have to be carrying big bundles of money in our pockets” he stated.
He asserted that Orange and Conex are providing a platform for everyone to do monetary transactions through their mobile phones without carrying any physical money. He mentioned that this is just the beginning of digitalising money in Sierra Leone and it is starting with Conex and Orange-SL.
Mr. David Mansaray, CEO of Orange Money, pointed out that this relationship is a step in the right direction because Orange Money is all about financial digitalization.
He further said that their main ambition is to ensure Sierra Leone becomes a cashless society.
He said further said that they want to be in a position where people can only use cash in emergencies. That’s the goal and that’s what we’re working towards. Today represents a milestone in that direction.
He goes on to say that “Most fuel stations close down before 8:00 pm -9:00 pm as a result of the cash handling process. It is difficult for them to handle cash after 9:00 pm; therefore, they have no choice but to close down. But this partnership will allow Conex to extend the hours beyond 9:00 pm.”
The Conex Sales Manager, Mr. Bernard Sesay, advised them to face the fact that cash is a steadily vanishing process or product. We are transitioning more and more towards a cashless world, he claimed.
He continued, “Conex, in partnership with Orange Money, has played a key role in popularising mobile money in the country. Conex and Orange Money have partnered to provide their customers across the country with the option to pay with cash or mobile money in situations where they don’t have physical money.”
He concluded by noting that their dealer must let their consumers know they have the option to pay with mobile money, in this case, Orange Money.
A promotion was introduced, offering Orange Money customers a chance to win one hundred liters of fuel for purchases made at Conex stations through Orange Money until the end of August.
The event climaxed with official launch of Orange Money and Conex, by the CEO of Orange money and Conex.
