Google Pay's global leap: UPI goes global with NPCI partnership

Global UPI alliance: Is era of forex cards coming to an end? Google India Digital Services has entered into a partnership with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to facilitate global expansion of Unified Payments Interface (UPI). collaboration, formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), aims to achieve three primary objectives. Firstly, it seeks to enhance use of UPI payments for international travellers, allowing m to conveniently conduct transactions abro. Secondly, partnership aims to assist in establishing UPI-like digital payment systems in various countries. Thirdly, it aims to enable cross-border money transfers by leveraging UPI infrastructure.

Digital borders erased

MoU is expected to accelerate global acceptance of UPI, providing foreign merchants access to Indian customers without need for reliance on foreign currency, credit cards, or forex cards for digital payments. This move aligns with broer goal of simplifying remittances by reducing dependence on tritional money transfer channels.

Ritesh Shukla, CEO, NPCI International Payments, expressed enthusiasm about strategic partnership with Google Pay, highlighting its potential to propel UPI onto global st. Shukla emphasised that collaboration will t only streamline foreign transactions for Indian travellers but also extend kwledge and expertise of operating a successful digital payments ecosystem to or countries. goal is to create a seamless and more connected international remittance network by expanding UPI's cross-border interoperability feature.

Deeksha Kaushal, Director of Partnerships, Google Pay India, expressed delight in supporting NIPL (NPCI International Payments Limited) in expanding reach of UPI to international markets. She described collaboration as a significant step towards ir commitment to making payments simple, safe, and convenient.

Worldwide UPI network

tably India's UPI has been expanding its global presence, connecting with countries such as Singapore, France, Sri Lanka, and UAE. UPI facility was initially linked to Singapore's Payw in February of previous year, enabling instant cross-border money transfers. Following Singapore, UPI was introduced in France, and later in UAE and Sri Lanka. Plans are underway to double number of countries where UPI is live within next 12-18 months, according to Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NPCI International Payments.