NPCI plans to take UPI global to make remittances faster and cheaper
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which built and runs the hugely popular Unified Payments Interface (UPI),now wants to use India’s digital payments backbone to make it cheaper and earlier for non-resident Indians to send money home.
What’s going on? NPCI is in the process of connecting the UPI platform to systems in other countries to replicate its domestic success. It is negotiating collaborations with governments, fintech companies and service providers around the world, aiming to reduce transaction costs and enable more small-ticket transactions, said Ritesh Shukla, chief executive officer of NPCI International Payments Ltd.
Why it matters:Indians overseas remitted $87 billion last year, the biggest inflow for any country tracked by the World Bank. The remittances market, where it costs $13 on average to send $200 across borders, is ripe for disruption, according to Shukla.
Crypto lender Voyager Digital files for bankruptcy
Stephen Ehrlich, founder, Voyager Digital
Days after suspending all withdrawals and deposits, crypto lender Voyager Digitalhas filed for bankruptcy, becoming the latest casualty of the ongoing crypto winter.
The company's filings revealed it had more than 100,000 creditors, $1-10 billion in crypto assets, and about the same amount in liabilities.
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Reliance Retail Inks Pact to Bring Gap Back to India
Reliance Retail has signed a long-term franchisee agreement with Gap Inc to become the official retailer of the American fashion brand across all channels in India.
Reliance Retail will sell Gap’s fashion offerings to Indian consumers through a mix of exclusive brand stores, multi-brand store expressions and digital commerce platforms, the company said on Wednesday.
Airlines Seek Clarity on Export Tax on Petro Products
India’s airlines have sought a clarification from the government on the recent addition of export taxes on petroleum products, which has considerably increased the prices of jet fuel purchased for international flights.
The higher levy aggravates cost pressures on airlines already reeling under soaring prices of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) that have set record highs several times this year. The charge also adds to what were already the highest levels of ATF taxes anywhere in the world.
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