UPI Payments coming to Cambodia as NPCI partners with ACLEDA Bank for cross-border QR

NPCI International Payments Limited has partnered with ACLEDA Bank Plc., Cambodia’s first publicly listed commercial bank, to create a two-way QR payment corridor that will allow UPI acceptance across Cambodia and KHQR acceptance across India.

ACLEDA Bank has been chosen by the National Bank of Cambodia as the operator for Bakong, the country’s national QR network. With this partnership, both sides aim to make QR code payments seamless for Indian and Cambodian travellers.

Indian tourists in Cambodia will be able to use their UPI apps to pay at more than 4.5 million KHQR merchant touch points. Cambodian visitors in India will be able to scan more than 709 million UPI QRs to make payments through their Cambodian apps.

The agreement sets up a network-to-network link between UPI and the KHQR ecosystem. Both institutions expect this to improve convenience for merchants and customers by offering secure and interoperable QR payments across borders.

Dr In Channy, President and Group Managing Director of ACLEDA Bank, said, "We are excited to sign this Service Agreement with NPCI International Payments Limited. The Service Agreement formalizes the technical and operational framework for interconnecting NPCI's UPI (Unified Payments Interface) network with ACLEDA Bank's KHQR ecosystem. This network-to-network setup will ensure secure, interoperable payments, allowing Indian consumers and businesses to use their mobile devices to scan QR codes from Cambodian merchants for payment.”

He added that the partnership supports ASEAN’s larger goal of promoting inclusive digital economies and will help customers access fast, affordable and secure cross-border payment options.

The National Bank of Cambodia and NIPL first signed an MoU in March 2023 to enable such cross-border transactions. In May 2023, NBC selected ACLEDA Bank as the sponsoring bank for this initiative.

NPCI International and ACLEDA are currently developing and integrating the system. The cross-border QR payment service, allowing India UPI apps to scan KHQR, is expected to launch in the second half of 2026. In the next phase, more banks in both countries will be onboarded so their customers can access the service.

Ritesh Shukla, MD and CEO of NPCI International, said, "Our partnership with ACLEDA Bank Plc. marks an important step in strengthening interoperable digital payment corridors between India and Cambodia. By enabling UPI and KHQR acceptance across both countries, we aim to make travel simpler and empower consumers with trusted and familiar payment options. This partnership reflects our commitment to expanding secure, inclusive, and scalable digital payments on a global scale."

Both organisations said the collaboration will support businesses by offering a frictionless payment experience to travellers. It also builds on NIPL’s expanding global footprint through partnerships in Bahrain, Malaysia, Japan, the UAE and other markets.

ACLEDA Bank serves more than 6.18 million customers and had $11.94 billion in total assets by the end of September 2025. NPCI International, set up in 2020, focuses on taking UPI and RuPay to international markets through partnerships, consulting, and technology support.