#IndiaGlobalLeader #DigitalIndia #UPIIntegration #UPU2025 #PostalInnovation #TechDiplomacy #OneWorldOneFamilyOneFuture
Dubai – Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, today unveiled a groundbreaking initiative at the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai — the integration of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Interconnection Platform (IP).
This initiative, developed jointly by the Department of Posts (DoP), NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), and the UPU, marks a major milestone in the global remittance ecosystem. By combining the unmatched reach of the global postal network with the speed, affordability, and reliability of UPI, the project is set to transform cross-border money transfers for millions of families worldwide.
“More than a technology launch, a social compact”
Addressing the international delegates, Shri Scindia called the UPI–UPU integration “more than a technology launch, but a social compact”. He emphasized that linking public digital infrastructure across borders demonstrates how technology can be harnessed for human welfare.
“The reliability of the postal network combined with the speed of UPI means families across borders can send money faster, safer, and at much lower cost. It reaffirms that public infrastructure built for citizens can be linked across borders to serve humanity better,” Scindia remarked.
India’s vision for a modern, inclusive postal sector
During his keynote, Shri Scindia articulated India’s vision for the global postal sector, anchored in four core actions:
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To connect – through seamless, data-driven logistics.
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To include – by delivering affordable, accessible digital financial services to migrants and small enterprises.
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To modernise – with cutting-edge tools such as Artificial Intelligence, DigiPIN, and machine learning for postal operations.
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To cooperate – by strengthening South–South partnerships, supported by a UPU-backed technical cell.
He highlighted how these priorities align with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Digital India vision and the goal of building a Viksit Bharat (Developed India).
India Post: Scale and spirit of inclusion
Citing the success of India’s postal and financial inclusion ecosystem, Shri Scindia noted that with the combination of Aadhaar, Jan Dhan, and India Post Payments Bank, India has successfully opened over 560 million accounts, with the majority in women’s names.
In addition, India Post’s operational scale remains unmatched — the network delivered more than 900 million letters and parcels last year, serving both rural and urban populations.
“This is the scale and spirit of inclusion India brings to the global stage,” he said.
India commits USD 10 million to global postal innovation
In a strong demonstration of India’s commitment to strengthening global postal cooperation, Shri Scindia announced a financial contribution of USD 10 million during this cycle. The fund will be directed towards channeling technology into innovation, with a special focus on e-commerce and digital payments.
Reiterating the guiding principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas”, he stressed that India comes to the global postal community with not just proposals, but partnerships built on trust, resilience, and shared prosperity.
India contests for UPU Council positions
Another key announcement at the Congress was India’s candidature for two important UPU governing bodies — the Council of Administration and the Postal Operations Council. This move underscores India’s growing leadership role in the international postal community and its commitment to building a connected, inclusive, and sustainable future for global postal systems.
Partnership with UPU leadership
Shri Scindia also held discussions with Mr. Masahiko Metoki, Director General of the UPU, where both leaders emphasized strengthening cooperation to create interoperable solutions for cross-border logistics, identity verification, and payments infrastructure.
A seamless, trusted future for global commerce
Concluding his speech at the 28th Universal Postal Congress, Shri Scindia underlined India’s belief in resilience, trust, and interoperability as guiding values for the future of global commerce.
“India comes to you not with proposals, but with partnership. We believe in resilience, enabling interoperable solutions that avoid costly fragmentation, and in trust, linking payments, identity, addressing, and logistics so that global commerce becomes seamless,” he said.
Significance of the UPI–UPU integration
The UPI–UPU project holds enormous potential in transforming how remittances are sent and received globally. With over 200 million migrants worldwide, the cost of cross-border transactions has long been a pain point, often averaging 6–7% of the transfer value. By leveraging UPI’s low-cost, real-time payments infrastructure and UPU’s trusted postal reach, the integration promises to make cross-border remittances faster, cheaper, and more secure.
Experts believe this initiative can serve as a template for other developing nations, showcasing how digital public infrastructure (DPI) can be scaled across borders to benefit ordinary citizens.
Conclusion
The launch of the UPI–UPU Integration at the UPU Congress in Dubai stands as a landmark in India’s digital diplomacy and global cooperation. With its financial commitment, leadership aspirations, and proven scale of inclusion through India Post and UPI, India is positioning itself as a trusted global partner in shaping the future of postal and financial services.
#IndiaGlobalLeader #DigitalIndia #UPIIntegration #UPU2025 #PostalInnovation #TechDiplomacy #OneWorldOneFamilyOneFuture
