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UPI launches at Galeries Lafayette flagship store in Paris

Posted on by darion

UPI launches at Galeries Lafayette flagship store in ParisNPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), in partnership with Lyra, a French leader in securing e-commerce and contactless payments, is pleased to enable Unified Payments Interface (UPI) acceptance at its flagship Galeries Lafayette store at Haussmann in Paris. Known for its rich culture, stunning architecture and world-class shopping, Paris is a favourite destination for Indian tourists. This new integration enables them to make secure and convenient UPI transactions at this historic luxury department store, enriching their overall Parisian experience.

Following the successful implementation of UPI for online ticket bookings for the Eiffel Tower, Galeries Lafayette becomes the second major French retailer to enable UPI under the NIPL-Lyra partnership. The official announcement was made in Paris in the presence of His Excellency Jawed Ashraf, Ambassador of India to France and Monaco, as well as distinguished guests including Nicolas Houzé, CEO of Galeries Lafayette and Alain Lacour, Chairman of Lyra Group.

This partnership will benefit the many Indian tourists who visit Paris every year by enabling them to use UPI, their preferred payment method, at the prestigious Galeries Lafayette flagship store. The UPI integration ensures seamless shopping and transaction experience through UPI-enabled apps, thus enhancing the memorable experience of their visit to Paris. By simply scanning a QR code at the store, Indian tourists can make payments with transparency of exchange rates.

Recalling the successful launch of UPI at the Eiffel Tower in January 2024 and the prospective vendor meeting with NPCI International in February 2024, Ambassador Jawed Ashraf welcomed the swift conclusion of the agreement and engagement of UPI with the world-renowned Galleries Lafayette, especially ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris. The Paris Olympic Games, scheduled to begin on July 26, 2024, are expected to attract a large number of visitors from India. The Ambassador hopes that this will pave the way for wide acceptance of UPI in France and support its internationalization as a means of digital payments. He thanked NPCI International and Lyra for their cooperation.

Ritesh Shukla, CEO, NPCI International he said, “Our partnership with Galeries Lafayette, Paris not only enables UPI payments at a prestigious location but also increases the adoption of UPI as a convenient and secure cross-border payment option for Indian tourists. We are confident that UPI will continue to gain popularity as a reliable and efficient payment option, further strengthening its presence in international markets..”

Christophe Mariette, CEO of Lyra India he said, “Lyra is happy to have enabled UPI acceptance for the first time in Europe in stores in the iconic department stores Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris. In collaboration with NPCI International, Galeries Lafayette and box office editor Lundi Matin, this has been achieved in a very short time. This is yet another reason why tourists from India are coming to Paris for the Olympic Games.”

Nicolas Houzé, CEO of Galeries Lafayette he said, “We are pleased to announce that we are the first department store in Europe to offer a UPI payment solution at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. By introducing UPI, we are facilitating seamless and secure transactions for our Indian guests and strengthening the cultural and economic ties between France and India. As the number of visitors from India grows, we are proud to offer this innovative payment option, ensuring a convenient and memorable shopping experience. With the opening of our first Indian store in Mumbai in 2025, followed by New Delhi, this initiative becomes even more important, symbolizing our commitment to strengthening the ties between our two countries..”

The integration of UPI in prominent French retail and travel destinations is expected to increase its adoption among European merchants. This initiative aims to expand UPI’s market presence in France and Europe, driving further growth and adoption as a secure payment solution.

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) was incorporated on April 3, 2020, as a wholly owned subsidiary of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). As the international arm of NPCI, NIPL is dedicated to implementing NPCI’s successful homegrown real-time payments system – Unified Payments Interface (UPI) – and card scheme (RuPay) outside India. NPCI has successfully developed and proven its products and technological capabilities in the domestic market, transforming the payments segment in India. Currently, there are several countries that are looking to establish a real-time payments system or a national card scheme. NIPL, with its expertise, can offer these countries technological assistance through licensing and consulting in setting up real-time payment systems to meet the rapidly changing needs of fast-growing global enterprises. NIPL is focused on transforming payments across the globe through technology and innovation. It will not only make payments possible for Indians, but will also support other countries by enhancing their payment capabilities through technology assistance, consulting and infrastructure.