Cambodia Accepts UPI Payments

Why in News?

Cambodia Becomes 9^th Country Where Indian Travellers Can Make UPI Payments.

• Ease of Cross-Border Payments - The introduction of UPI-enabled QR payments simplifies cross-border transactions, especially for tourists accustomed to cashless systems.
• In the first phase, Indian travellers visiting Cambodia can now make QR-based payments seamlessly across the country.
• Institutional Partnership
  • The initiative was launched through a partnership between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and ACLEDA Bank Public Limited Company in Cambodia.
• Two-Way Payment Corridor
  • Current Phase - Focuses on enabling Indian travellers to pay in Cambodia.
  • Next Phase - Will expand into a bi-directional corridor, allowing Cambodian citizens visiting India to use their domestic banking and mobile apps to scan UPI QR codes at millions of Indian outlets.
• Advantages for Travellers
  • Eliminates the need to carry large amounts of cash.
  • Reduces concerns over fluctuating exchange rates.
  • Enhances ease, security, and comfort for tourists in shopping, dining, and other transactions.
  • Provides a familiar payment ecosystem abroad, reducing transaction friction.

• Boost for Local Businesses in Cambodia
  • Cambodian merchants gain access to a digitally active Indian tourist base.
  • Benefits include increased spending, faster transactions, and reduced dependence on cash.
  • Digital payments improve operational efficiency, lower overhead costs, and enable secure, real-time settlements — particularly valuable for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
• Strategic Significance
  • Strengthens India’s digital diplomacy and financial integration with Southeast Asia.
  • Enhances soft power by exporting India’s successful digital payment model.
  • Supports regional economic cooperation and aligns with India’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy.

Other Countries that accepted UPI payments are Singapore, United Arab Emirates (UAE), France, Mauritius, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Qatar.

Reference

NDTV | Cambodia accepts UPI Payments