Thebe Tourism Group has teamed up with the Travelex foreign exchange group to launch a network of foreign exchange outlets across the African subcontinent to facilitate the increasing flow of people and funds across Southern Africa and beyond.

A statement issued on the launch said the opening of four newly revamped foreign exchange stores at OR Tambo International Airport and the announcement of a wider national foreign exchange store network, illustrated the commitment to South Africa and the provision of more convenient foreign exchange services in the sub-Saharan region.

Speaking at the opening of the four foreign exchange stores at OR Tambo International Airport, Travelex founder and chairman, Lloyd Dorfman, said the launch of the outlets was a vote of confidence in the South African economy.

“Travelex and Thebe Investment Corporation are proud partners in FXAfrica – the company that operates the Travelex brand offering in Southern Africa. Today’s event is a milestone in our plans to facilitate the increasing flow of trade and commerce across Africa, with OR Tambo as the gateway to the development nodes in East and West Africa as well as the Horn of Africa. It’s a great growth story and we are proud to be part of it,” said Dorfman.

Travelex intends to significantly increase its footprint throughout Africa over the coming months, targeting airports, retail shopping malls and major borders, as well as less traditional retail areas in South Africa.

Said Vusi Khanyile, Chairman of Thebe Investment Corporation: “The African diaspora means that there is a real need to facilitate the safe and convenient flow of funds from wherever the African diaspora is based, to their home villages, towns and cities. This means looking at areas where one would not traditionally expect to find foreign exchange outlets, such as Hillbrow, Soweto and Hammanskraal, and FX Africa, trading as Travelex, is at the forefront of this development.”

Dorfman added that the establishment of infrastructure at OR Tambo was the logical departure point for this initiative. “OR Tambo is a superb facility and the gateway to Africa and the world for many commercial travellers and visitors who come to South Africa to shop, work or trade and who need to purchase foreign exchange or repatriate funds.”

Thanks to the launch of the new FX Africa/Travelex stores, international travellers at OR Tambo International will now be able to take advantage of the latest technology to quickly and conveniently order their foreign exchange on the ‘landside’ and then pick up their order on the ‘airside,’ having cleared passport control.