India and Namibia have taken a historic step towards deepening their bilateral partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to introduce India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services in Namibia. This development, announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Windhoek, marks the first time India’s UPI platform will be deployed in an African nation, signaling a new era of digital collaboration and financial inclusion.
The MoU was formalized between the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Bank of Namibia, following a licensing agreement signed in April 2024. The partnership aims to modernize Namibia’s financial infrastructure by leveraging India’s expertise in real-time digital payments. Namibia becomes the first country outside India to adopt the UPI stack through direct collaboration with a central bank, setting a precedent for future fintech cooperation between India and Africa.
Namibia will launch its UPI-based digital payments system later this year, offering citizens and businesses access to seamless, real-time transactions. The initiative is expected to foster financial inclusion by providing easy, secure, and affordable payment solutions, especially for underserved communities in Namibia.
By enabling instant payments, UPI will empower small businesses, entrepreneurs, and consumers, contributing to Namibia’s economic growth and digital transformation. The MoU is part of a broader set of agreements signed during PM Modi’s visit, including collaborations in healthcare, entrepreneurship, disaster-resilient infrastructure, and biofuels.
The UPI agreement is a testament to the growing strategic partnership between India and Namibia. During delegation-level talks, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in digital technology, defense, security, agriculture, healthcare, education, and critical minerals. Prime Minister Modi described Namibia as a “valued and trusted partner” in Africa and expressed gratitude for Namibia’s support in initiatives like Project Cheetah.
This is the first instance of NPCI International partnering with a foreign central bank to deploy UPI, opening new avenues for India’s fintech exports and digital diplomacy. India has also committed to supporting Namibia with capacity-building programs, quick impact development projects, and sharing expertise in areas like agriculture and cybersecurity.
The success of UPI in Namibia could encourage other African nations to explore similar collaborations, positioning India as a leader in digital payments technology.