Namibia: Namibia is set to introduce India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for real-time digital transactions later this year, marking a new phase in the growing partnership between the two countries.
The announcement follows discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on July 9. The leaders agreed to expand cooperation across multiple sectors including defence, trade, energy, digital technology, and critical minerals.
The decision to adopt UPI comes a year after the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) signed a technology licensing agreement with the Bank of Namibia in April 2024.
Namibia’s adoption of UPI makes it the first African nation to deploy the Indian digital payment system, signaling deeper economic and technological collaboration. The system is expected to go live by the end of this year.
In his statement on social media, Prime Minister Modi highlighted that discussions with Namibia touched on key areas such as digital technology, defence cooperation, agriculture, healthcare, education, and access to critical minerals. He also acknowledged Namibia’s ongoing support for Project Cheetah, a conservation initiative that reintroduced African cheetahs into India.
The move reflects a broader push by India to export its digital public infrastructure to international markets, particularly in the Global South, where many nations are looking to strengthen financial inclusion through technology.
Commenting on the development, Rohit Mahajan, Founder and Managing Partner of plutosONE, noted that the adoption of UPI in Namibia could contribute to expanding financial services to underserved populations, especially in remote areas.
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