India rolls out UPI payments at Galeries Lafayette in Paris

Following a successful launch at the iconic Eiffel Tower, India has introduced its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at Paris' historic department store Galeries Lafayette  

This step marks the realization of the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to globalize UPI. This method of transaction was developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016.

"On July 3, 2024, the UPI became live at the flagship store of the world-renowned Galeries Lafayette in Haussmann, Paris. This expands the acceptance of UPI in Paris after a successful launch at the iconic Eiffel Tower," the Indian Embassy in France said in a release.

UPI was launched by the Ambassador of India to France and Principality of Monaco Jawed Ashraf by using it live at the store in the presence of Nicolas Houze, CEO of Galeries Lafayette, and Alain Lacour, Chairman of Lyra Group, the release said.     

"Delighted to launch @UPI_NPCI in the world-famous @Galeries_Laf in Paris. After the launch in the Eiffel Tower in Jan 2024, expanding UPI across France. A journey that PM @narendramodi began in 2018 with UPI in Singapore taking another step forward," Ashraf said in a post on X.

India formally launched UPI at the Eiffel Tower in February.   

Recalling the success of the UPI launch at the Eiffel Tower in January 2024 and the meeting hosted for potential merchants with NPCI International in February 2024, the Ambassador welcomed the quick conclusion of the agreement and arrangement between Lyra and NPCI for the launch of UPI at the world-famous Galeries Lafayette ahead of the Paris Olympics starting July 26, 2024, which is expected to draw a large number of Indian visitors, the release said.

The ambassador recalled the first international launch of UPI in Singapore in 2018 by Modi and expressed satisfaction with the international journey of UPI.

He hoped that in addition to quick, safe and efficient means of cross-border digital payments, UPI would grow as a medium of cross-border remittances and eventually become the digital payment system in countries across the world.