New Delhi: In a historic move, Namibia is set to become the first African nation to adopt India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for real-time digital payments, following high-level talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on July 9, 2025. This development marks a significant milestone in India’s ambitious agenda to expand UPI to 20 countries by 2028-29, as outlined in the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Annual Report for 2023-24. The agreement, signed between NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL) and the Bank of Namibia in April 2024, is poised to transform Namibia’s digital payment landscape and strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.
A New Chapter in India-Namibia Relations
The announcement came during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Namibia, the final leg of his five-nation tour that included Brazil for the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro. This visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Namibia in 27 years, was marked by a ceremonial welcome at the State House in Windhoek, complete with a 21-gun salute and a guard of honour. Modi, invited by President Nandi-Ndaitwah, described Namibia as a “valued and trusted partner” in Africa, emphasizing the deepening of bilateral cooperation in areas such as digital technology, defence, security, agriculture, healthcare, education, and critical minerals.
The delegation-level talks between the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of India-Namibia relations. Modi highlighted the potential for enhanced trade, energy, and petrochemical linkages, expressing gratitude for Namibia’s support in Project Cheetah, which involved the translocation of eight cheetahs from Namibia to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh in September 2022 for India’s cheetah conservation initiative. The discussions also touched on global issues, with both leaders committing to amplify the voice of the Global South and strengthen the fight against terrorism, particularly in light of Namibia’s solidarity with India following the Pahalgam terror attack.
UPI: Powering Namibia’s Digital Future
The cornerstone of the Modi-Ndaitwah meeting was the announcement of Namibia’s adoption of UPI, a system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016. UPI integrates multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application, enabling seamless fund transfers, merchant payments, and other banking features. The technology licensing agreement between NPCI and the Bank of Namibia, signed in April 2024, will see UPI rolled out in Namibia later in 2025, making it the first African nation to embrace this transformative payment system.
Rohit Mahajan, Founder and Managing Partner of plutosONE, hailed the move as “a significant milestone.” He noted, “UPI’s ability to scale across India’s diverse population shows its strength as an inclusive digital payment platform. By sharing this tested system with Namibia, India is helping build a secure, real-time payment network that can reach remote and underserved communities.” Mahajan emphasized that the partnership could boost small businesses, reduce cash dependency, and serve as a model for South-South fintech collaboration.
The rollout of UPI in Namibia is expected to streamline digital transactions, foster financial inclusion, and stimulate economic growth. With India recording over 13 billion UPI transactions worth ₹20.45 lakh crore in June 2025 alone, the system’s scalability and reliability make it an ideal candidate for global adoption.
Broader Bilateral Agreements
Beyond UPI, the talks culminated in the signing of four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to deepen India-Namibia cooperation:
- Entrepreneurship Development Center: An MoU was signed to establish an Entrepreneurship Development Center in Namibia, aimed at fostering innovation and supporting small businesses.
- Health and Medicine: A pact was inked to enhance collaboration in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, aligning with India’s expertise in these sectors.
- Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): Namibia joined the India-backed CDRI, which focuses on enhancing infrastructure resilience to climate and disaster risks, involving national governments, international organizations, and the private sector.
- Global Biofuels Alliance: Namibia’s participation in this alliance underscores its commitment to sustainable energy solutions, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.
These agreements reflect the multifaceted nature of India-Namibia relations, with a strong emphasis on technology, sustainability, and capacity building.
UPI’s Global Footprint
Namibia’s adoption of UPI adds to the growing list of countries where UPI-based international merchant payments are accepted. As of July 2025, UPI is active in Bhutan, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and the UAE. The RBI, in collaboration with NIPL, has set an ambitious target to expand UPI to 20 countries by 2028-29, as part of its strategy to globalize India’s digital payment infrastructure.
NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NPCI incorporated in 2020, is spearheading the internationalization of UPI and RuPay, India’s card payment network. Other initiatives include:
- UPI One World: A prepaid payment instrument linked to UPI, provided to foreign nationals and NRIs from G20 countries to facilitate seamless transactions in India.
- Global Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Repository: Under India’s G20 initiatives, this repository promotes the sharing of digital infrastructure solutions like UPI to foster global financial inclusion.
- Social Impact Fund: Aimed at advancing DPI in the Global South, this fund supports the development of inclusive digital ecosystems, with UPI as a key component of the payments layer.
The internationalization of UPI is poised to drive global market expansion by enabling faster and easier cross-border payments, promoting interoperability between payment systems, and fostering technological collaboration as a form of “digital diplomacy.” By sharing UPI with Namibia, India is strengthening its influence and goodwill in Africa.
Economic and Defence Ties
India-Namibia trade has grown significantly, from less than $3 million in 2000 to nearly $600 million in recent years. Indian firms have invested in Namibia’s mining, manufacturing, diamond processing, and services sectors. Both leaders noted that the full potential of bilateral trade remains untapped and called for expediting discussions on a preferential trade agreement between India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
Defence cooperation has also deepened, with Indian Navy warships making regular goodwill visits to Namibia’s Walvis Bay port. Teams from the Indian Army and Air Force are deployed in Namibia to train Namibian defence personnel, while Modi offered to scale up development cooperation through capacity-building programs and partnerships for manufacturing facilities in agriculture, IT, cybersecurity, healthcare, education, women’s empowerment, and child welfare.
Tributes to Namibia’s Founding Father
During his visit, Modi paid tribute to Namibia’s founding father, Sam Nujoma, at the Heroes’ Acre memorial. Nujoma, who led Namibia to independence in 1990 and served as its first President for 15 years, was described by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs as a “great friend of India” whose legacy continues to inspire people worldwide. Modi lauded Nujoma’s visionary leadership and contributions to Namibia’s nation-building.
India’s Support for Project Cheetah
Namibia’s support for India’s cheetah conservation project was a key highlight of the visit. In September 2022, eight cheetahs were translocated from Namibia to Kuno National Park, marking a significant step in India’s efforts to reintroduce cheetahs into the wild. Modi thanked President Nandi-Ndaitwah for Namibia’s assistance and invited the country to join the International Big Cat Alliance, further strengthening conservation ties.
A Model for South-South Cooperation
The UPI rollout in Namibia is not just a technological transfer but a testament to India’s growing role as a leader in digital innovation and South-South cooperation. By sharing its expertise in digital payments, India is helping Namibia build a secure, inclusive, and efficient payment ecosystem. This partnership could pave the way for other African nations to adopt UPI, creating a ripple effect across the continent.
As Rohit Mahajan noted, “This partnership could boost small businesses, cut cash dependency, and act as a model for more South-South fintech collaboration.” With UPI’s proven success in India and its expanding global footprint, Namibia’s adoption of the system is a step toward a more connected and financially inclusive world.
Conclusion
The adoption of UPI in Namibia marks a new chapter in India-Namibia relations, blending digital innovation with diplomatic goodwill. As the first African nation to embrace UPI, Namibia is poised to benefit from a robust, real-time payment system that has transformed India’s digital economy. Coupled with agreements in health, entrepreneurship, and sustainable infrastructure, this partnership underscores India’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth and technological collaboration in the Global South. With UPI set to go live in Namibia later this year, the world is watching as India’s digital revolution takes root in Africa.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1.What is the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and how will it benefit Namibia?
UPI, launched by India’s National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016, is a real-time digital payment system that integrates multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application, enabling seamless fund transfers and merchant payments. For Namibia, adopting UPI will streamline digital transactions, boost financial inclusion, reduce cash dependency, and support small businesses by providing a secure and efficient payment network, particularly for underserved communities.
2. When will Namibia roll out UPI, and what led to this decision?
Namibia is set to roll out UPI later in 2025, following a technology licensing agreement signed between NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL) and the Bank of Namibia in April 2024. The decision was formalized after talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on July 9, 2025, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties in digital technology and other sectors.
3. Which other countries currently use UPI for international payments?
As of July 2025, UPI is active for international merchant payments in Bhutan, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and the UAE. Namibia will be the first African nation to adopt the system, aligning with India’s goal to expand UPI to 20 countries by 2028-29.
4. How does the UPI partnership fit into India-Namibia bilateral relations?
The UPI rollout is part of a broader effort to deepen India-Namibia cooperation, which includes agreements in health, entrepreneurship, and sustainable infrastructure like the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and Global Biofuels Alliance. The partnership also strengthens trade, defence, and conservation ties, such as Namibia’s support for India’s Project Cheetah, enhancing economic and diplomatic relations.
5. What is the significance of UPI’s internationalization for global markets?
The internationalization of UPI, led by NIPL, promotes faster cross-border payments, enhances interoperability between global payment systems, and fosters financial inclusion. It also serves as a form of “digital diplomacy,” strengthening India’s influence through technological collaboration, particularly in the Global South, and stimulating trade by simplifying transactions.
