Japan ‘seriously thinking’ to join Indian UPI payments system

New Delhi: Ahead of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, the Japanese Digital Minister Kono Taro stated that the nation is ‘seriously thinking’ about joining the Indian UPI payments system. Both nations are set to extend their digital ties the UPI system will enable cross-border payments. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also lauded PM Narendra Modi’s Digital India vision and welcomed Japan for the ties.

Japanese Minister Kono Taro in an interview with Wion said that they are seriously thinking to join the Indian UPI payments system and the nation is also contemplating mutually recognising e-ID to increase the exchange of digital information. He mentioned the G7 Digital Ministers’ meeting last month, which was attended by India’s Electronics and Information Technology Minister Vaishnaw, and said that the two countries are trying to promote digital cooperation.

Taro talked about having a convenient system of payments and added that Singapore, Thailand, and UAE might also join the cross border tele payment system to have a standard system.

Replying to the Japanese Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw said that India is getting a great response at every global forum where the nation is presenting Modi’s Digital India vision. He added that people understand that PM Modi has democratised digital technology. The Indian E&IT Minister thanked his Japanese counterpart for accepting the vision of Digital India.

The statement has come amid PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan for the G7 Summit. India has had strong ties with Japan and the Japanese PM Fumio Kishida visited India in March 2023, when he invited his Indian counterpart to the G7 Summit. PM Modi will also unveil the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima.