MEA Confirms UPI Will Be Operational In Seychelles By The End Of Year
MEA says UPI will be operational in Seychelles by year-end.
India and Seychelles are set to deepen their digital financial cooperation with the rollout of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the island nation by the end of 2026, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The announcement was made during a special briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Seychelles, where officials outlined key outcomes of the bilateral discussions aimed at strengthening economic and technological ties.
Misri said the introduction of UPI would represent a significant milestone in India’s expanding digital public infrastructure outreach. He noted that while India and Seychelles do not yet share a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, the two countries already maintain a strong and substantive relationship rooted in development cooperation, capacity building, and strategic engagement across the Indian Ocean region. The planned UPI integration is expected to further enhance this partnership by enabling faster and more efficient financial transactions.
The Foreign Secretary also highlighted ongoing collaboration under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, which continues to play an important role in strengthening human resource development in Seychelles. He said the island nation is a significant participant in the programme, utilising around 90 training slots annually. These training opportunities cover a wide range of fields, including public administration, healthcare, information technology, and technical skill development, contributing to capacity building across key sectors.
Also Read: Least Contributors Should Not Bear Climate Burden, Says PM Modi in Seychelles
Misri further explained that the timeline for UPI implementation has been aligned with broader efforts to modernise financial systems and improve ease of transactions between India and Seychelles. Once operational, UPI is expected to facilitate real-time digital payments, making cross-border financial exchanges more seamless for citizens, tourists, and businesses. Officials believe this will be particularly beneficial for Seychelles, where tourism and service-based industries form a major part of the economy.
The initiative is also seen as part of India’s broader strategy to expand its digital public infrastructure model internationally. UPI, which has transformed domestic digital payments in India, is increasingly being explored for adoption in partner countries as a secure, scalable, and efficient payment system. Its expansion to Seychelles would mark another step in India’s efforts to promote fintech cooperation and digital connectivity with friendly nations.
During the briefing, Misri reiterated that the target remains to operationalise UPI in Seychelles by the end of 2026. He emphasised that the project reflects the growing depth of India–Seychelles relations, which extend beyond traditional diplomacy into technology sharing and development partnerships. As both nations continue to collaborate across sectors, the integration of digital payment systems is expected to further strengthen economic linkages and support long-term regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
Also Read: Seychelles Awards PM Modi ‘Guardian Of The Blue Horizon’ Title For Maritime Leadership
