Prezzee & UnionPay partner to expand global digital gifting
Prezzee has announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UnionPay International to expand its digital gifting and payments services globally.
The new partnership sees Prezzee, an Australia-based company specialising in digital gifting, join forces with UnionPay International, whose cardholder network is reported to reach over 9.4 billion cardholders across 183 countries and regions. The MOU was signed by Benoit Garnaud, Prezzee's Chief Product Officer, and Ms. Shao Min, Vice President of UnionPay International South Pacific Region, at a ceremony in Shanghai, attended by executives from both organisations.
The collaboration aims to leverage UnionPay International's global acceptance network and Prezzee's digital gifting technology to provide secure, seamless, and sustainable gifting solutions for consumers and businesses worldwide.
Global expansion
According to Prezzee, the agreement enables the company to serve a much broader audience, integrating with one of the world's largest payment networks. This connection facilitates easy and secure digital gifting and payments for both Australians with family abroad and international visitors to Australia.
Benoit Garnaud, Chief Product Officer at Prezzee, said:
"This is a defining moment in Prezzee's global growth journey. Together with UnionPay International, we're not just expanding reach, we're connecting cultures, empowering local businesses, and offering the kind of intuitive, borderless payment solutions today's global consumers expect. This partnership strengthens financial ties between Australia, Asia, and the world."
UnionPay International and Prezzee will focus on joint development of prepaid card issuance, including gift cards, as well as joint marketing efforts. The initial phase will introduce UnionPay-branded digital prepaid card products in markets such as Australia and New Zealand, with plans for campaigns designed to encourage consumer acquisition and usage.
Enabling digital gifting
Prezzee has sold over 140 million digital gift cards to date, partnering with more than 1,500 brands worldwide. Its digital platform allows users to gift and shop using mobile-first solutions, which the company says is increasingly in demand, especially among younger consumers.
"We're seeing a strong shift toward digital, particularly among Gen Z consumers. This partnership ensures we continue to lead in innovation, providing accessible, sustainable gifting solutions to everyone, from Australian shoppers to global travellers," Garnaud said.
UnionPay International's network encompasses over 2,600 institutions and accepts payments in 183 countries and regions. The firm says this global coverage will support seamless payment experiences for both local and international customers using Prezzee's gifting solutions.
Tourism and economic links
As tourism and cross-border commerce begin to recover following recent global disruptions, payments and digital gifting solutions are playing a growing role in linking economies. The partnership comes at a time when forecasts suggest that Chinese visitors to Australia will return to pre-pandemic levels by 2027, potentially again exceeding 1.4 million annually. The organisations say the agreement will facilitate simple payment and gifting arrangements for visitors using UnionPay International at local Australian merchants.
The partners position the initiative as a way to streamline gifting and payment options, making it easier for people to send gifts across borders securely, bring families closer together, and strengthen links between local businesses and visiting customers.
Both companies stated that leveraging each other's technology and global presence can unlock new opportunities for scalable digital payment solutions, with expected benefits reaching consumers, communities, and the larger economy.
