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By 2025, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) may expand its footprint to an additional six countries, targeting regions frequented by Indian tourists, such as Qatar, Thailand, and the broader Southeast Asia. NPCI International Payments (NIPL), a subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is spearheading this initiative to extend the reach of India’s real-time payment system beyond its current presence in seven countries.

Current and Future Plans

According to Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NIPL, the organization aims to go live in 3–4 countries next year, with potential expansion to six if projects progress smoothly. “While NPCI in India works at a rapid pace, international partnerships often operate differently. Nonetheless, we are optimistic about achieving this milestone,” Shukla stated during the Moneycontrol Fintech Conclave.

Presently, UPI payments are accepted in seven nations, including Bhutan, Mauritius, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and France. Over 20 apps, such as BHIM, PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay, facilitate these international transactions.

Enhancing Adoption and Awareness

To drive adoption in existing markets, NIPL is focusing on awareness campaigns targeting merchants and users. The organization collaborates with Indian banks to educate customers about UPI’s international usability and with fintechs to provide real-time notifications for users traveling abroad. UPI services are already live at international terminals in six airports.

Developing Payment Systems for Other Nations

Beyond expanding UPI’s reach, NIPL is assisting countries like Peru, Namibia, and Trinidad and Tobago in developing their own real-time payment systems. Shukla emphasized the importance of empowering nations with sovereign domestic payment solutions before establishing cross-border connectivity.

Efforts are also underway to help nations such as the UAE and Mauritius create card schemes similar to India’s RuPay, further strengthening international payment infrastructures.

Bilateral and Multilateral Collaborations

NIPL’s strategy for peer-to-peer (P2P) and peer-to-merchant (P2M) transactions involves both bilateral and multilateral initiatives. For example, UPI has been connected with Singapore’s PayNow, and discussions are ongoing with Aani, the UAE’s fast payment system.

On a multilateral level, projects like BIS’s Project Nexus aim to interlink instant payment systems across countries. This initiative involves central banks from India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, fostering a globally connected payment ecosystem.

NIPL’s efforts represent a significant step in making seamless, real-time digital payments accessible worldwide, both for Indian travelers and global users.

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