The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the opening of payment systems connectivity between India and Cambodia, allowing Indian tourists to use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to make merchant payments throughout Cambodia via QR codes. The program represents a significant advancement in India’s endeavors to broaden the reach of its digital payments infrastructure worldwide.
Launched in Phnom Penh on June 2, 2026, the first phase of the partnership creates interoperability between Cambodia’s national QR code standard, KHQR, and India’s UPI. Under the direction of the RBI and the National Bank of Cambodia, NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Acleda Bank Plc have partnered to carry out the initiative.
Indian visitors to Cambodia can now use their UPI-enabled apps to pay at more than 4.5 million KHQR-enabled merchant locations throughout the nation thanks to the increased connectivity. In addition to lowering dependency on cash and providing an alternative to card-based transactions, the facility is anticipated to deliver a smooth, safe, and transparent payment experience.
The project, according to the RBI, is a component of a larger plan to connect UPI with quick payment systems in other countries in order to facilitate effective cross-border transactions. Additionally, the action is in line with the G20 Roadmap for Enhancing Cross-Border Payments, which aims to improve the cost, speed, transparency, and accessibility of international payments.
The current rollout is the first stage of the relationship, according to the central bank. The next step would create a two-way payment corridor between India and Cambodia by allowing Cambodian tourists to use Cambodia’s payment system to make UPI QR-enabled merchant payments while in India.
The most recent development highlights India’s goal to establish its domestic digital payments infrastructure as a worldwide standard for inexpensive, real-time cross-border transactions and contributes to the nation’s expanding network of foreign UPI collaborations.
The new financial link is anticipated to make transactions easier for both visitors and businesses as international travel and trade between India and Southeast Asia continue to expand.
