Strengthening Global Postal Cooperation: Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia with Masahiko Metoki, Director General, Universal Postal Union, in Dubai today.
UPI-Postal Integration Speeds Up Worldwide Money Transfers
Dubai: A new system unveiled by India combines its fast, low-cost Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payment technology with the global network of 435,000 post offices, enabling instant, affordable money transfers across countries.
Unlike traditional services that charge high fees and take days, the UPI–Universal Postal Union (UPU) Integration project allows anyone to use a post office to send money abroad quickly and cheaply, much like posting a letter.
“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,” said India’s Communications Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, at the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai on September 9, 2025. He launched the UPI–UPU Integration Project with UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki at the UPU Congress.
Developed by India’s Department of Posts, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) International Payments Limited, and the UPU, this system transforms post offices in 190 countries into digital payment hubs. For example, a migrant worker in a rural area can send earnings home through a post office, with funds arriving in seconds for a minimal fee.
Scindia described it as “more than a technology launch, but a social compact,” emphasising its potential to connect families and businesses globally. He outlined India’s vision for a modern postal sector through four goals: connecting through seamless, data-driven logistics; including affordable digital financial services for migrants and digital enterprises; modernising with technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Postal Identification Number (DigiPIN), and machine learning; and cooperating through South-South partnerships supported by a UPU-backed technical cell.
India pledged USD 10 million to advance global postal innovation, focusing on e-commerce and digital payments, aligning with the Digital India initiative and the vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat).
The Minister highlighted India Post’s achievements, noting it delivered over 900 million letters and parcels last year and opened over 560 million bank accounts, mostly for women, through Aadhaar, Jan Dhan, and India Post Payments Bank. He also announced India’s candidature for the UPU’s Council of Administration and Postal Operations Council, reinforcing India’s commitment to a connected, inclusive, and sustainable global postal community. Following the motto of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas” (Together with all, Development for all, Trust of all, Efforts of all), Scindia said India offers resources, expertise, and friendship to global partners.
He concluded, “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.” This initiative aims to make global money transfers as simple and reliable as mailing a letter, transforming how people and businesses support each other worldwide.
– global bihari bureau
