NPCI INTERNATIONAL TO SUPPORT NAMIBIA DEPLOY UPI-LIKE PAYMENT SYSTEM

Mr. Johannes !Gawaxab, Hon'ble Governor of the Bank of Namibia (left) and Mr. Ritesh Shukla, CEO, NPCI International (Photo: Business Wire)

KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 (Bernama) -- NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has signed an agreement with the Bank of Namibia (BoN) to support them in developing an instant payment system like Unified Payment Interface (UPI) for Namibia.

“We are proud to join hands with Bank of Namibia to enable the deployment of UPI-like real-time payments system in Namibia for the Digital Public Good of its citizens. We are excited about this partnership, which will enable Namibian citizens to transact instantly leveraging technology and experiences from India's UPI.

“By enabling this technology, the country will gain sovereignty in the digital payments landscape and stand to benefit from enhanced payment interoperability and improved financial access for underserved populations,” said NPCI International Chief Executive Officer, Ritesh Shukla in a statement.

Meanwhile, Bank of Namibia Governor, Johannes !Gawaxab said: “This system aims to connect individuals, businesses, and government entities across Namibia, including the payment of social grants, enabling more efficient economic interactions and supporting the growth of digital entrepreneurship.”

This collaboration marks a strategic leap towards strengthening Namibia’s financial infrastructure and fostering inclusive economic growth, in addition to helping the country modernise its financial ecosystem, by leveraging technology and experiences from India’s UPI.

This includes improving accessibility, affordability, connectivity with both domestic and international payment networks, and interoperability.

This strategic partnership aims to enhance digital financial services and bolster real-time Person-to-Person (P2P) and Merchant payment transactions (P2M) in the African nation. The robust security features inherent in the UPI platform not only promise to instil confidence among users and stakeholders but also ensure scalability for future technological advancements and market demands.

Furthermore, through this collaboration, BoN will gain access to best-in-class technology and insights from NIPL, enabling the creation of a similar platform in Namibia for the digital welfare of its citizens.

Once live, the platform will facilitate digital transactions in Namibia, driving financial inclusion and reducing cash dependency by catering to underserved populations, offering essential and affordable financial services to all, with a particular focus on rural and informal sectors.

-- BERNAMA