France - After Eiffel tower, UPI goes live at Galeries Lafayette, eyes Paris Olympics boost

France - After Eiffel tower, UPI goes live at Galeries Lafayette, eyes Paris Olympics boost:

UPI, which has made its name by being available for even the humblest transactions at a handcart, will now be accepted at the 19th-century Galeries Lafayette on Haussmann Boulevard in Paris, a symbol of French retail and Parisian fashion.

In Jan this year, NPCI enabled UPI for online bookings for the Eiffel Tower. Subsequently, in Feb, NPCI International hosted a meeting for potential merchants.

The acceptance by the French retailer has been facilitated through a partnership between NPCI International Payments and Lyra - a French leader in securing e-commerce and proximity payments. As Paris gears up for the 2024 Olympics, this initiative aims to facilitate seamless transactions for a growing number of Indian visitors and underscores UPI's evolving role as a global digital payment solution.

Speaking on the integration with UPI, Nicolas Houze, CEO of Galeries Lafayette, said, "We are delighted to be the first department store in Europe to offer the UPI payment solution. By introducing UPI, we facilitate seamless and secure transactions for our Indian guests and strengthen cultural and economic ties between France and India. As the number of visitors from India is growing, we are proud to offer this innovative payment option." NPCI's partnership comes a year before Galeries Lafayette opens its first store in India in Mumbai, followed by another one in Delhi.