NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has signed an agreement with Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) to link India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Malaysia’s DuitNow, paving the way for QR-based merchant payments for travellers in both countries.
The integration will be implemented in phases. In the first phase, Indian travellers visiting Malaysia will be able to make payments at DuitNow QR-enabled merchant outlets using UPI apps. In the next phase, Malaysian visitors to India will be able to scan UPI QR codes and complete transactions using their DuitNow apps. The arrangement will provide Indian tourists access to millions of DuitNow QR touchpoints across Malaysia, including restaurants, retail outlets and tourist attractions, while Malaysian travellers will gain acceptance at millions of UPI-enabled merchants across India.
Ritesh Shukla, Managing Director and CEO, NPCI International, said the partnership, undertaken under the guidance of the Government of India and the Reserve Bank of India, aims to expand UPI’s global footprint by building interoperable, real-time payment linkages with overseas networks. He noted that the collaboration would offer travellers a familiar, secure and seamless payment experience while deepening digital and economic ties between India and Malaysia.
Praveen Rajan, CEO, Payments Network Malaysia, said the agreement demonstrates how national payment infrastructures can enable everyday cross-border transactions at scale. He added that the UPI–DuitNow linkage is expected to enhance connectivity for travellers, merchants and banks, and support higher trade and travel flows, particularly in the context of Malaysia’s tourism push in 2026.
NPCI International, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India, has been expanding UPI’s global acceptance through partnerships across Asia, the Middle East and Europe, focusing on remittances, QR-based tourist payments and real-time payment integrations.
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