• Visa CEO Ryan McInerney sees UPI as a growth opportunity, emphasizing its role in financial inclusion and its influence on global digital payments.
  • He highlights India's fintech innovations, particularly QR payments, and notes the potential for exporting India Stack’s digital infrastructure worldwide.

Visa CEO Ryan McInerney views India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as an opportunity rather than a competitor, highlighting its role in driving financial inclusion and innovation in the country’s digital payments ecosystem.

During his first visit to India since taking over as Visa’s CEO in November 2022, McInerney expressed admiration for the rapid advancements in the country's digital payment landscape, particularly UPI, QR codes, and soundbox technology.

Speaking at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2024, he described India's progress in digital transactions as "nothing short of remarkable."

"We see it (UPI) as an opportunity for Visa...to help build on the financial inclusion that has happened as a result of UPI, work with banks to create new credit products, and empower consumers financially helping them to grow up the credit ladder and build wealth," McInerney said.

He also acknowledged the influence of Indian fintech innovations on Visa’s global strategy, particularly the widespread adoption of QR-based payments.

"Indian fintechs have opened up our mind to the power of QR payments," he noted, adding that Visa is exploring similar models in other markets where QR codes may become a preferred transaction method.

Visa, a major global payments processor, facilitated $15 trillion in payment volumes and 276 billion transactions in the 2023 fiscal year. With operations spanning 200 countries, India remains a key strategic market for the company, hosting its second-largest workforce outside the United States.

On the broader impact of India's digital public infrastructure, McInerney remarked that global stakeholders are closely monitoring the development of India Stack—a suite of digital solutions including Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

"There is a meaningful opportunity to export the stack. Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, ONDC...all of these elements are extraordinarily impressive. If you look at the product roadmap and transparency, I wouldn't put it (India Stack) up against any of the best big tech players on the planet," he said.

McInerney's comments underscore the growing recognition of India's digital payment ecosystem as a model for financial inclusion and technological advancement, with potential lessons for other markets worldwide.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah