Indian visitors to Cambodia can now settle transactions at millions of retail outlets using their mobile phones, following a cross-border agreement between the two countries.
The deal brings the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India’s domestic digital payments network, into use across Cambodian merchants. Unveiled in Phnom Penh in the presence of officials from the National Bank of Cambodia and the Reserve Bank of India, it enables travellers to scan QR codes at more than 4.5 million points, reducing reliance on cash and international card networks for everyday purchases.
With Cambodia joining the system, UPI is now accepted in nine countries, alongside Singapore, France, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan and Qatar. The expansion comes as destinations across Asia compete for a growing share of Indian outbound tourism, supported by stronger air links and rising demand for regional travel.
That competition is increasingly extending beyond airlines, visas and tourism promotion. As the movement of people and commerce across Asia gathers pace, governments and financial institutions are placing greater emphasis on connecting domestic payment networks and reducing friction in cross-border transactions.
For now, the facility is limited to Indian citizens spending money in Cambodia. A second phase is expected to allow Cambodian travellers to use domestic banking and mobile payment applications when visiting India.
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