THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
NEW DELHI/ATHENS, JUNE 30, 2026
The growing global acceptance and adoption of the Unified
Payments Interface (UPI) reflects the trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
vision of building technology-led solutions that create value beyond borders
and deepen partnerships for shared growth and prosperity, Union Commerce and
Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday as he witnessed the live
demonstration of the Eurobank–NIPL partnership enabling UPI services in Greece.
The launch of UPI in Greece marks another significant milestone in the
international expansion of India's world-class digital payment ecosystem,
offering eligible customers instant, secure and seamless cross-border
transactions at substantially lower costs.
Leading a high-level delegation of senior business leaders
and government officials to Greece, Goyal attended the demonstration at
Eurobank headquarters in Athens alongside Eurobank CEO Fokion Karavias and
Fairfax Digital Services CEO Sanjay Tugnait. The event showcased India's
rapidly expanding digital public infrastructure and underscored the growing
global confidence in UPI as a secure, efficient and cost-effective payment
platform.
Describing the development as a major step forward, Goyal
said the availability of UPI services in Greece would make digital payments and
money transfers faster, safer and significantly cheaper than conventional
remittance channels, further strengthening India's leadership in digital
financial innovation.
The minister's visit featured a series of high-level engagements
aimed at deepening India-Greece economic cooperation and expanding commercial
partnerships across strategic sectors.
The programme commenced with discussions between the Indian
delegation and the leadership of Eurobank at Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens,
where both sides explored opportunities to enhance financial collaboration,
investment and business growth.
Later, Goyal participated in the India-Greece Business
Council Meeting and Business Forum at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (ACCI). The event brought together leading businesses from both
countries through three focused sectoral roundtables covering infrastructure — including
energy, ports, logistics, shipbuilding, warehousing, trade, and gems and
jewellery — along with digital innovation and defence, and food processing and
agriculture.
The roundtable discussions enabled Indian and Greek industry
leaders to identify new areas of collaboration, forge strategic partnerships
and explore investment opportunities across diverse sectors. Addressing the
gathering, Goyal highlighted the shared commitment of both nations to advancing
trade, investment and innovation-led growth.
The day's engagements concluded with the India-Greece
Business Summit, attended by ministers and senior business leaders from both
countries, reaffirming the shared vision of strengthening bilateral economic
ties through enhanced cooperation in trade, technology and innovation.
A networking reception hosted by the Athens Chamber of
Commerce and Industry rounded off the day's programme, providing an opportunity
to strengthen institutional engagement and business-to-business connections.
The extensive engagements on the opening day of Goyal's visit
reflected the growing momentum in India-Greece relations and reinforced the
commitment of both countries to building a robust, future-oriented economic
partnership anchored in innovation, digital transformation and sustainable
growth.
