First in Malaysia: Razorpay Curlec and NPCI International Join Forces to Introduce UPI Payments

Indian travellers can soon pay Malaysian merchants using UPI apps, with transactions settled instantly in ringgit

Kuala Lumpur, 30th October 2025 – Reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a top destination for Indian travellers, Razorpay Curlec, the Country’s leading payment gateway, has partnered with NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) to bring India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to Malaysia.

This partnership, formally signed at India’s Global Fintech Fest’ 2025, will empower Malaysian businesses to receive instant payments from millions of Indian travellers through their preferred UPI apps, marking a major step toward seamless and instant cross-border commerce between the two countries.

In 2024, Malaysia welcomed one million Indian tourists, who spent RM 6.11 billion – a 71.7% increase from the previous year. This growing travel corridor presents an opportunity to further simplify cross-border payments, enhancing convenience for Indian travellers and driving greater business for Malaysian merchants.

Through this partnership, Indian visitors will be able to pay instantly using UPI-enabled apps to Malaysian merchants, who will accept payments directly via Razorpay Curlec’s platform – settled in ringgit, without the need for international cards or extra integration. This groundbreaking partnership that links one of the world’s most advanced real-time payment systems, India’s UPI, with Malaysia’s fast-growing digital economy will usher in a new era of seamless, instant, and inclusive cross-border commerce.

Razorpay Curlec will soon be one of the first payment service providers in Malaysia to offer UPI acceptance.

Excited to bring UPI to Malaysia, Kevin Lee, Country Head and CEO of Razorpay Curlec, said, “Indian travellers represent one of the fastest-growing visitor groups to Malaysia, yet many still rely on cash or face high fees when using international cards. By enabling UPI payments, we will make it easier for them to spend and easier for Malaysian businesses to earn. It is a meaningful step toward frictionless payments and a stronger, digitally connected economy. Looking ahead, we are committed to driving continuous innovation that deepens financial inclusion and positions Malaysia as a leading hub for seamless cross-border commerce.”

Ritesh Shukla, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), said, “UPI has transformed the way India pays, setting a global benchmark for speed, security, and interoperability. Extending its reach to Malaysia through this partnership with Razorpay Curlec will allow millions of Indian travellers to pay with the same convenience they have at home, and enable Malaysian merchants to benefit from a trusted payments network. It is a win for both economies and a major stride in strengthening digital cooperation across Asia.”

Angad Dhindsa, Executive Director and Head of Southeast Asia at Razorpay, said, “This partnership exemplifies how cutting-edge payment technology can break down barriers and create truly seamless cross-border experiences. By integrating India’s UPI system with Malaysia’s digital economy, we’re driving innovation that empowers businesses and consumers alike with instant, secure, and cost-effective payments. This is a major leap forward in accelerating Southeast Asia’s digital transformation and setting new standards for regional financial connectivity.”

Why UPI?

UPI, India’s flagship real-time payment method, has revolutionised how Indian businesses and customers transact by enabling instant, secure money transfers between banks and digital wallets, similar to Malaysia’s DuitNow network.

In September 2025, UPI processed around 20 billion transactions, underscoring its vital role in India’s digital economy and empowering millions of businesses and consumers with faster, seamless payments.

Hence, this partnership will now open new growth opportunities for Malaysian businesses by offering them unprecedented access to a vast, digitally savvy Indian customer base eager to transact effortlessly. For Malaysian merchants, the integration delivers the dual advantage of accessing a high-spending tourist market while maintaining local settlement and compliance standards.

This collaboration also aligns with the ASEAN Summit 2025’s broader push toward regional payment connectivity, which aims to link national systems through initiatives such as the common QR code standard and Project Nexus. Such efforts are expected to unlock new growth opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and tourism across Southeast Asia, enabling them to transact more seamlessly across borders.

By combining world-class technology with deep local insight, Razorpay Curlec is driving innovation in Malaysia’s payment landscape through industry-first partnerships and digital-first solutions. As a trusted partner to businesses of all sizes, Razorpay Curlec is empowering local enterprises to embrace seamless, secure, and modern payment experiences, fueling growth and competitiveness in one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic digital economies.