18 Jan 2024
Google has signed an MoU with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to expand UPI payment services for Indians travelling abroad.
Google India Digital Services signed an MoU with NPCI so Google Pay can offer UPI services to Indians travelling abroad. The agreement also allows Google to develop a UPI-like system in other countries to facilitate seamless transactions.
The partnership will allow foreign remittances to other countries easier through UPI. It will promote UPI services worldwide and enable global brands to access Indian buyers who are currently restricted to credit and forex cards and foreign currency. It will also allow foreign nationals travelling to India to pay easily through Google Pay’s UPI.
In Jan 2023, NPCI extended UPI services to mobile numbers from ten countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, Singapore, UAE, Qatar, Australia, Hong Kong, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Non-resident accounts like NRO and NRE linked to international mobile numbers from these countries can transact with UPI. PhonePe also started supporting UPI transactions in Singapore, UAE, Nepal, Bhutan, and Mauritius.