UPI services launched in Sri Lanka and Mauritius: Top facts
- Alongside UPI, India’s RuPay card services debuted in Mauritius during the event. RuPay, a global card payment network originating from India, boasts widespread acceptance at various points of sale, ATMs, and online platforms.
- Indian and Mauritian nationals visiting each other’s countries can use UPI for easy digital transactions.
- Mauritian banks can issue RuPay cards, allowing cardholders to make secure payments in both India and Mauritius.
- This collaboration promotes closer digital connectivity among the three nations, fostering greater cooperation in the digital realm.
Who all was present during the launch ceremony?
The event witnessed the participation of Prime Minister Modi along with the top leadership of Sri Lanka and Mauritius.Joining him were Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth and Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The UPI, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is a real-time payment system facilitating seamless inter-bank transactions via mobile phones.
What did the MEA statement say?
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated, “India has emerged as a leader in Fintech innovation and Digital Public Infrastructure. The prime minister has placed a strong emphasis on sharing our development experiences and innovation with partner countries.”
The statement also highlighted India’s strong cultural and people-to-people connections with Sri Lanka and Mauritius. It emphasised that the launch will provide a faster and smoother digital transaction experience, benefiting a diverse range of people, and enhance digital connectivity between the countries.
The MEA statement mentioned that the launch will make UPI settlement services available for Indian nationals travelling to Sri Lanka and Mauritius, as well as for Mauritian nationals travelling to India.
“The extension of RuPay card services in Mauritius will enable Mauritian banks to issue cards based on RuPay mechanism in Mauritius and facilitate usage of RuPay card for settlements both in India and Mauritius,” it further clarified.