India, June 15 : India’s flagship digital payment platform, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), is rapidly expanding its footprint in France, marking another significant step in the globalisation of India’s digital public infrastructure. The development comes amid strengthening strategic ties between India and France, with both countries pushing for deeper cooperation across technology, innovation, trade and connectivity.
Speaking in Nice on Sunday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said UPI has already become operational at several locations across France, including major international airports and the iconic Eiffel Tower. The expansion reflects growing acceptance of India’s digital payment ecosystem in Europe and is expected to make transactions easier for Indian travellers, students and business professionals visiting the country.
Misri noted that the payment platform has witnessed encouraging adoption since its introduction in France and is now being extended to additional destinations. According to him, UPI services are available at multiple airports and key tourist locations, with discussions underway to broaden coverage to other French cities in the near future.
He highlighted that the initiative is not limited to a few symbolic locations but is gradually becoming part of France’s wider payment infrastructure. The Foreign Secretary added that further expansion is expected in the coming weeks, enhancing convenience for users and strengthening financial connectivity between the two nations.
A major boost to the initiative is expected through the planned rollout of UPI services at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs. Misri also indicated that the airport in Nice is likely to join the network shortly, creating additional access points for seamless digital transactions by Indian visitors.
The growing presence of UPI in France reflects the increasing international recognition of India’s digital payment architecture. Over the past few years, UPI has transformed the way payments are made in India by enabling instant and secure transactions through mobile devices. Its success has attracted global attention, with several countries exploring partnerships to integrate the platform into their own financial ecosystems.
The announcement coincided with high-level discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron under the India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership framework. During their bilateral engagement, the two leaders reviewed ongoing cooperation across multiple sectors and explored opportunities for future collaboration.
Both sides emphasised the importance of innovation-led growth and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in emerging technologies. Areas such as artificial intelligence, startup ecosystems, digital infrastructure, healthcare, mobility solutions and sustainable development featured prominently in the discussions.
The visit resulted in the signing of 19 agreements aimed at expanding bilateral engagement across economic, technological and strategic domains. The agreements are expected to facilitate greater investment flows, encourage innovation partnerships and create new opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs in both countries.
Officials said the discussions reflected the evolving nature of India-France relations, which have increasingly focused on technology-driven growth and long-term strategic cooperation. The partnership has expanded significantly in recent years, encompassing defence, space, clean energy, education and digital transformation initiatives.
The availability of UPI in France is being viewed as an important milestone in the broader effort to internationalise India’s digital public infrastructure. By enabling secure and efficient payments across borders, the platform can simplify financial transactions for travellers while also supporting business and tourism exchanges between nations.
For Indian tourists visiting France, the expanded network offers a familiar and convenient payment option. Instead of relying heavily on currency exchange or international cards, travellers can use digital payment applications linked to UPI, reducing transaction complexities and improving accessibility.
Industry experts believe that wider international adoption of UPI could strengthen India’s position as a global leader in digital payments. The platform’s success demonstrates how large-scale digital infrastructure can promote financial inclusion, reduce transaction costs and support economic growth.
The development is also expected to benefit French businesses catering to Indian visitors. As tourism and business travel between the two countries continue to increase, merchants accepting UPI payments may gain easier access to a growing customer base accustomed to digital transactions.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the recent engagement between the two leaders as another step forward in deepening bilateral cooperation. He said both countries are committed to strengthening partnerships in innovation, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
Beyond economic cooperation, India and France also exchanged views on key regional and global developments. The discussions reflected shared interests in maintaining stability, promoting sustainable development and supporting technological progress through international collaboration.
The expansion of UPI services in France highlights how digital connectivity is becoming an increasingly important pillar of modern diplomacy. As nations seek new avenues for cooperation, financial technology platforms are emerging as powerful tools for strengthening economic links and improving cross-border engagement.
With additional French cities and transport hubs expected to join the network in the coming months, the UPI expansion in France represents a significant milestone in India’s digital outreach strategy. The initiative not only enhances convenience for users but also symbolises the growing depth of India-France relations in an increasingly technology-driven world.