Indian and Cambodian travelers could soon enjoy UPI and KHQR payment options in both nations.

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the global division of India’s National Payments Corporation (NPCI), has established a collaboration with ACLEDA Bank Plc., Cambodia’s pioneering publicly listed commercial bank, to facilitate cross-border QR code payments between India and Cambodia.

ACLEDA Bank, which operates the national QR network Bakong (KHQR) in Cambodia, will partner with NIPL to enable Indian travelers in Cambodia to make payments at over 4.5 million KHQR merchant locations using UPI-enabled applications. Likewise, Cambodian travelers in India will have the ability to scan more than 709 million UPI QR codes for payments through their own Cambodian payment applications.

This partnership is designed to provide secure, interoperable, and smooth payment solutions across retail outlets, restaurants, tourist attractions, and various merchant establishments in both nations. It is anticipated to enhance business opportunities by broadening digital payment alternatives for consumers while simplifying transactions for travelers.

Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO of NPCI International, remarked that this partnership fortifies digital payment channels, allowing consumers to utilize well-known and trusted payment methods while abroad.

In Channy, President & Group Managing Director of ACLEDA Bank, stated that the agreement establishes a formal technical and operational framework to connect UPI and KHQR, promoting rapid, affordable, and secure cross-border payments while encouraging financial innovation and regional payment interoperability in alignment with ASEAN’s vision.

NIPL, founded in 2020, promotes India’s real-time payment system UPI and card scheme RuPay internationally, providing technological support, licensing, and consultation to countries aiming to develop domestic payment infrastructures.

ACLEDA Bank, which has total assets of $11.94 billion and serves over 6.18 million customers, operates in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, catering to more than 5.35 million mobile app users through its ACLEDA Super App.