Indian Travellers Can Now Use UPI in Cambodia Through New NPCI-ACLEDA Partnership

India’s digital payment revolution has reached another significant milestone as NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has officially launched Unified Payments Interface (UPI) acceptance in Cambodia.

The initiative has been introduced in partnership with ACLEDA Bank Plc., one of Cambodia’s leading financial institutions, marking a major step forward in strengthening financial connectivity between the two countries.

The development further reinforces India’s growing influence in the global digital payments landscape and highlights the increasing international adoption of UPI, which has become one of the world's most successful real-time payment systems.

India and Cambodia Strengthen Digital Payment Cooperation

According to an official statement released on Wednesday, the partnership between NPCI International Payments Limited and ACLEDA Bank Plc. has enabled the rollout of UPI acceptance across Cambodia.

The launch was formally inaugurated during a ceremony held in Phnom Penh. The event was attended by Chea Serey, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia, along with senior representatives from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The collaboration represents the successful completion of the first phase of a cross-border QR payment linkage between India and Cambodia. The payment connection has been established through Bakong’s KHQR, Cambodia’s national QR code system, creating an interoperable framework that allows users from both countries to transact more efficiently.

Phase 1 Enables Indian Travellers to Pay Using UPI Across Cambodia

Seamless QR Payments at More Than 4.5 Million Merchants

The first phase of the initiative is focused on enabling Indian visitors to make digital payments effortlessly while travelling in Cambodia.

Under the newly launched arrangement, Indian travellers can use their existing UPI-enabled applications to scan and pay at over 4.5 million Cambodian merchants. This eliminates the need to carry large amounts of cash or rely on traditional foreign currency exchange mechanisms.

The integration leverages Cambodia’s KHQR infrastructure, ensuring that Indian consumers can continue using familiar payment platforms while abroad.

Growing Demand for Digital Travel Payments

As international travel continues to recover and expand, digital payment convenience has become an important factor for tourists. Indian travellers are increasingly seeking cashless payment options that offer security, transparency, and ease of use.

The UPI-KHQR linkage addresses these needs by enabling instant QR-based transactions while maintaining a familiar user experience.

Future Phase Will Create a Fully Bi-Directional Payment Corridor

Cambodian Citizens to Gain Access to India's UPI Network

While the initial phase primarily serves Indian travellers visiting Cambodia, the partnership has been designed with a broader vision.

The second phase of the project will establish a fully bi-directional payment corridor between the two countries.

Under this arrangement, Cambodian citizens travelling to India will be able to use their domestic banking and digital payment applications to scan millions of UPI QR codes across India. This interoperability will be facilitated through Bakong’s KHQR ecosystem.

Strengthening Regional Financial Integration

The two-way payment system is expected to become one of the most advanced examples of cross-border retail payment interoperability in the region. By connecting national payment infrastructures, both countries aim to promote greater financial inclusion, tourism growth, and commercial activity.

Economic Benefits for Businesses and Consumers

Improved Convenience for Travellers

One of the most immediate advantages of the new payment corridor is enhanced convenience for tourists.

Travellers will no longer need to depend heavily on cash transactions, exchange currencies frequently, or worry about unfamiliar foreign exchange charges. Instead, they can make secure digital payments directly from their preferred banking applications.

Opportunities for Cambodian Merchants

The initiative is also expected to create significant economic opportunities for businesses across Cambodia.

By accepting UPI payments, local merchants gain direct access to a large and rapidly growing Indian tourist market. This could lead to higher transaction volumes and increased consumer spending.

Benefits for Local Businesses Include:

• Faster and secure digital payments
• Reduced dependency on cash transactions
• Lower operational costs associated with cash handling
• Real-time transaction settlements
• Improved financial transparency
• Better cash flow management

These advantages can contribute to greater operational efficiency while supporting the country's broader digital economy objectives.

UPI Continues Its Global Expansion

Cambodia Becomes the Ninth Country to Accept UPI

The launch in Cambodia adds another important destination to UPI's growing international footprint.

UPI is already accepted in eight countries – Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar and Sri Lanka – enabling Indian travellers to make seamless payments abroad through familiar platforms. Now, Cambodia is the ninth country joining the list.

The international expansion aligns with India's broader vision of exporting digital public infrastructure and promoting secure, low-cost payment solutions worldwide.

UPI's Growing Global Significance

UPI has transformed India's payment ecosystem over the past decade. The platform processes billions of transactions every month and has become a benchmark for real-time digital payment innovation globally. Several countries and international institutions have shown interest in adopting or integrating similar payment frameworks inspired by India's success.

As more nations join the UPI ecosystem, the platform is expected to play a larger role in facilitating international tourism, trade, and cross-border financial inclusion.

Conclusion

The launch of UPI acceptance in Cambodia marks another significant milestone in India's digital payments journey. Through the partnership between NPCI International Payments Limited and ACLEDA Bank Plc., Indian travellers can now make seamless QR-based payments at over 4.5 million Cambodian merchants, enhancing convenience and reducing dependence on cash.

With plans to introduce a fully bi-directional payment corridor in the next phase, the initiative is set to deepen financial cooperation between India and Cambodia while supporting tourism, trade, and digital economic growth. As Cambodia becomes the ninth country to adopt UPI, India's globally recognized payment infrastructure continues to strengthen its position as a leading model for cross-border digital payments.