The partnership will offer Indian & Cambodian travellers the convenience of making QR code-based payments seamlessly across tourist attractions, restaurants, retail outlets and other establishments. Indian tourists in Cambodia will be able to use their UPI enabled apps to make merchant payments easily at more than 4.5 million KHQR merchant touch points. Similarly, Cambodian tourists in India will be able to scan more than 709 million UPI QRs to make merchant payments conveniently using their Cambodian payment apps. The collaboration will support businesses in both countries by offering a secure, interoperable, and frictionless payment experience via UPI and KHQR, significantly enhancing convenience for consumers in both markets.

Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO, NPCI International, said, “Our partnership with ACLEDA Bank Plc. marks an important step in strengthening interoperable digital payment corridors between India and Cambodia. By enabling UPI and KHQR acceptance across both countries, we aim to make travel simpler and empower consumers with trusted and familiar payment options. This partnership reflects our commitment to expanding secure, inclusive, and scalable digital payments on a global scale.”

Dr. In Channy, President & Group Managing Director of ACLEDA Bank, said, “We are excited to sign this Service Agreement with NPCI International Payments Limited. The Service Agreement formalizes the technical and operational framework for interconnecting NPCI’s UPI (Unified Payments Interface) network with ACLEDA Bank’s KHQR ecosystem. This network-to-network setup will ensure secure, interoperable payments, allowing Indian consumers and businesses to use their mobile devices to scan QR codes from Cambodian merchants for payment. In addition, this collaboration represents an important step toward regional payment interoperability, aligning with ASEAN’s vision of advancing inclusive digital economies and fostering financial innovation in digital payments, empowering our customers with fast, affordable, and secure cross-border options that boost trade and tourism for both nations”.

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Indians are the second largest group of international visitors to Qatar*. This partnership will help them to make real-time transactions across the country, limiting the need to carry cash and currency exchange hassle. The acceptance of UPI in Qatar promotes interoperability and expands UPI’s global reach.

Moreover, it is expected to benefit Qatar’s retail and tourism sectors as UPI acceptance will increase transaction volumes of merchants acquired by QNB. This will further help them in scaling their business while offering convenience to customers.

Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO, NPCI International, said, “We aim to enhance the acceptance of UPI globally and create a truly interoperable global payment network. The partnership with QNB is a step towards this journey. It will help millions of Indian travelers make seamless, secure digital transactions and reduce their dependence on cash. As UPI makes its mark, we are focused on driving interoperability and making cross-border payment experiences hassle-free for users.” 

Mr. Yousef Mahmoud Al-Neama, Group Chief Business Officer, QNB, said “We are excited to introduce UPI in Qatar and proud to be at the forefront of innovating the payment landscape. This milestone not only enhances the convenience for Indian travelers but also brings significant benefits to the Qatari market by promoting cashless transactions, boosting retail and tourist sectors, and strengthening interoperability in the payments ecosystem. Importantly, it will also enable local merchants to thrive by attracting more customers and providing them with seamless digital payment options.” 

Mr. Thabet Musleh, Chief Retail & Hospitality Officer, Qatar Airways Group said, “At Qatar Duty Free, we are committed to enhancing convenience and accessibility for travellers. As the first entity in Qatar to enable UPI as a payment option, we are proud to offer Indian travellers a seamless, secure, and cashless transaction experience at our outlets. This partnership with NPCI International and Qatar National Bank reflects our dedication to embracing innovative payment solutions that cater to the evolving needs of our diverse customer base. By integrating UPI, we aim to elevate the retail experience at Hamad International Airport, ensuring a smoother journey for millions of visitors.”

The partnership strengthens India’s digital payment footprint while offering a seamless and secure payment experience for Indian travelers in Qatar.

Tsuyoshi Ri, Representative Director and CEO of NETSTARS Co., Ltd., said, “We are honoured to be part of this strategic partnership and milestone, enabling UPI for the first time in Qatar together with NPCI International, Qatar Airways Group and Qatar National Bank. This aligns with our mission to expand seamless and secure payment experiences globally. We are proud to contribute to this launch in Qatar, which will empower local merchants in Qatar to accept digital payments conveniently and efficiently from millions of international travellers.”

*https://www.qatartourism.com/content/dam/qatar-tourism/qatar-tourism-reports/Qatar-Tourism-FY-2023-tourism-performance-report.pptx.pdf

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Bengaluru, July 16, 2025 – NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) the international arm of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has further enhanced the UPI-PayNow real-time payment linkage by adding 13 more banks on the platform, extending its reach and simplifying cross-border remittances between India and Singapore. With this development, which will go live on July 17, 2025, users in both countries can remit funds to a wider base, making the service more accessible and convenient.

The expanded network for remittances to India now includes 19 banks – Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, IDFC FIRST Bank, IndusInd Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Punjab National Bank, South Indian Bank, and UCO Bank alongside Axis Bank, DBS Bank India, ICICI Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, and State Bank of India.

Recipients in India can receive remittances from Singapore in their accounts held with any of these 19 banks through their preferred UPI enabled apps such as BHIM, Google Pay and PhonePe, as well as bank apps. Outward remittances from India to Singapore is available through Canara Bank, HDFC Bank and Karur Vysya Bank along with ICICI Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and State Bank of India. In Singapore, customers of DBS SG and Liquid Group can avail this service.

The UPI-PayNow service was launched as a joint initiative between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). It facilitates real-time cross-border fund transfers between individuals, where Indian users can receive funds via UPI ID and send funds to users in Singapore via their mobile number or Virtual Payment Address (VPAs). As the world’s first cloud-based, real-time cross-border payment system, the initiative is a pioneering step in global payment connectivity.

This development is particularly beneficial for the Indian diaspora in Singapore, including migrant workers and students, bringing the ease of digital payments to everyday remittances. UPI is already accepted via QR codes at select merchant outlets in Singapore, further extending its utility.

Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO, NPCI International said, “The expansion of the UPI-PayNow linkage marks a step forward in strengthening cross-border payment infrastructure. By enabling access to more banks in India, we are deepening the reach of real-time remittances and supporting greater financial connectivity between the two countries. This brings added convenience to users through a seamless and trusted platform”.

UPI-PayNow integration enables real-time cross-border remittance transactions, with funds reaching the recipient’s bank account within seconds. The service leverages strong security protocols to ensure safe and reliable transfers. It is ideal for small and frequent remittances, providing users with a convenient and cost-effective way to send and receive money anytime.

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Following the successful implementation of UPI for online ticket booking at the Eiffel Tower, Galeries Lafayette becomes the second major French merchant to enable UPI under the NIPL-Lyra partnership. The official announcement was made in Paris in the presence of His Excellency Jawed Ashraf, Ambassador of India to France and Monaco, along with distinguished guests including Nicolas Houzé, CEO of Galeries Lafayette, and Alain Lacour, Chairman of Lyra Group.

This partnership will benefit multitude of Indian tourists visiting Paris every year, allowing them to use UPI, their favored payment method, at the prestigious Galeries Lafayette flagship store. The integration of UPI ensures effortless shopping and seamless transactions through UPI-powered apps, enhancing the memorability of their visit to Paris. By simply scanning QR code at the store, Indian tourists can complete their payments with transparency in exchange rates.

Recalling the success of UPI launch at the Eiffel Tower in January 2024 and the meeting hosted for potential merchants with NPCI International in February 2024, Ambassador Jawed Ashraf welcomed the quick conclusion of the agreement and engagement of UPI at the world-famous Galleries Lafayette, specially ahead of the Paris Olympics. Starting July 26, 2024, Paris Olympics is expected to draw large number of Indian visitors. Ambassador hopes this will pave the way for wide acceptance of UPI in France and support its internationalization as a means of digital payments. He thanked NPCI International and Lyra for their cooperation.

Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NPCI International said, “Our collaboration with Galeries Lafayette in Paris not only enables UPI payments at a prestigious venue but also boosts UPI adoption as a convenient and secure cross-border payment method for Indian tourists. We are confident that UPI will continue to gain traction as a reliable and efficient payment option, further strengthening its presence in international markets.”

Christophe Mariette, Chairman of Lyra India said, “Lyra is happy to have enable for the first time in Europe the in-store acceptance of UPI in the iconic Department stores Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris. Thanks to the collaboration with NPCI International, Galeries Lafayette and the cash register editor Lundi Matin it has been done in a very short time. One more reason for Indian tourists to come to Paris for the Olympic Games.”

Nicolas Houzé, CEO of Galeries Lafayette said, “We are delighted to be the first department store in Europe to offer the UPI payment solution at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. By introducing UPI, we facilitate seamless and secure transactions for our Indian guests and strengthen cultural and economic ties between France and India. As the number of visitors from India is growing, we are proud to offer this innovative payment option, ensuring a convenient and memorable shopping experience. With the opening of our first Indian store in Mumbai in 2025, followed by New Delhi, this initiative becomes even more significant, symbolizing our commitment to reinforcing the ties between our two countries.”

The integration of UPI at prominent French retail and tourist destinations is set to boost its popularity among European merchants. This initiative aims to broaden UPI’s market presence in France and Europe, driving further growth and adoption as a secure payment solution.

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