UPI is set to expand its reach worldwide as nearly 12,000 merchants in Singapore are preparing to accept payments through the platform. This development follows an announcement by NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). NIPL revealed a partnership with HitPay, a Singapore-based full-stack payments infrastructure company which is aimed at increasing UPI acceptance throughout the country.
This collaboration intends to offer a better payment experience for Indian tourists visiting Singapore as over 1.2 million Indians visited the country in 2024. The initiative will involve a phased rollout of UPI acceptance across more than 12,000 merchants in Singapore, enabling businesses to provide Indian consumers with a seamless online and offline payment experience via UPI. Through this partnership, Indian tourists will be able to use QR codes to make payments at various locations, including tourist spots, restaurants and retail stores.
What NIPL and HItPay said about the partnership
The latest partnership represents another major step in UPI’s global expansion, strengthening its presence in the international digital payments landscape.
Commenting on the partnership, Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NPCI International said: “We are committed to expanding UPI’s global footprint to simplify transactions for Indians abroad. Our partnership with HitPay increases UPI’s acceptance in Singapore, offering Indians a reliable, affordable payment method while travelling. This collaboration underscores our dedication to creating a globally interconnected payments ecosystem.”
“UPI has revolutionised India’s payment system with unparalleled speed, simplicity, and scalability. This integration aligns with HitPay’s vision to be the trusted partner for merchants in Singapore, offering seamless access to some of Asia’s fastest-growing markets and beyond,” Aditya Haripurkar CEO and co-Founder of HitPay added.
In January, NIPL collaborated with Magnati, a leading Middle Eastern payment solutions provider, to enable UPI merchant payments through Magnati’s POS terminals in the UAE. This initiative benefits over 12 million Indian travellers visiting Dubai and the UAE annually by offering seamless payment options.
Earlier, in September 2024, NIPL partnered with Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Digital Transformation (MDT) to establish a real-time payments platform inspired by India’s UPI, making it the first Caribbean nation to adopt the system.
