India is considering linking its Unified Payments Interface with Alipay+, a move that could dramatically expand how Indian travellers pay abroad. Government and central-bank officials are reportedly discussing the proposal with Singapore-based Ant International, which operates Alipay+ independently from China’s Ant Group.
If approved, Indian tourists could use familiar UPI applications at more than 150 million Alipay+-connected merchants across over 100 markets. The network is particularly strong in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. Instead of relying on international cards or exchanging cash, travellers could scan a merchant’s QR code and pay directly from an Indian bank account.
The commercial opportunity is substantial. UPI processes around 18 billion domestic transactions monthly, but its international acceptance remains limited. Access to Alipay+ could reduce payment costs, simplify currency conversion and strengthen UPI as a global competitor to Visa and Mastercard. Overseas merchants would gain easier access to India’s rapidly expanding traveller market.
“The commercial opportunity is substantial.”
EuroAsia.News Editorial, reporting from New Delhi
However, no agreement has been approved. Indian authorities are examining data protection, transaction routing, fraud prevention and control over critical payment infrastructure. Alipay+ has Chinese origins, making the discussions politically sensitive after India restricted numerous Chinese applications and investments following the 2020 border conflict.
The challenge is therefore to gain global reach without weakening India’s digital sovereignty. A connection could transform UPI into an international payment network—but only if Indian financial data remains protected and oversight stays firmly under Indian control. Reuters