In a major step towards cooperation in digital finance and an indication of a larger effort to strengthen technology-driven bilateral ties, India has formally extended its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to Israel.The announcement was made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel from February 25 to 26 on the invitation of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both sides agreed to explore linking UPI with Israel’s fast payment system to enhance interoperability and strengthen economic ties.The implementation of UPI in Israel is expected to facilitate easy digital payments for individuals and companies in both nations, boosting investment, trade and tourism, and strengthening India’s fintech presence on a global platform.In addition, this payment system integration will be advantageous to Indian tourists, non-resident Indians (NRIs), businesspeople, professionals and students.According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) note in 2025, India has emerged as the global leader in fast payments over the years, with UPI being at the heart of this transformation. UPI processes over 18 billion transactions every month in India.