DBT Bureau
Pune, 7 June 2024
PhonePe announced its collaboration with PickMe, Sri Lanka’s leading ride-hailing platform, to enable seamless UPI-based QR payments for Indian travelers in Sri Lanka. The partnership signifies a major step forward in enhancing their travel experience through the convenience of cashless transactions on their PickMe rides from the moment they exit the Bandaranaike International Airport.
While traveling, managing foreign currency and ensuring enough cash on hand for various expenses can often become a hassle. By integrating PhonePe’s UPI-based QR payment system into their platform, PickMe aims to minimise that stress for Indian travelers visiting Sri Lanka. PhonePe users can make secure and quick payments for their rides with UPI.
Commenting on the collaboration, Ritesh Pai, CEO, International Payments at PhonePe, added, “Our partnership with PickMe exemplifies the company’s commitment to providing Indian travelers with convenient and trusted payment solutions. Travel is all about exploring new cultures, where food and local shopping are an integral part of that adventure. Previously, navigating payments in a new country could be a hassle. Now, with PhonePe, Indian tourists visiting the beautiful island nation of Sri Lanka can enjoy the ease and security of UPI payments for their rides.”
Jiffry Zulfer, CEO of PickMe added, “Currently, we are the only ride-hailing platform in Sri Lanka to offer such a service to Indian travelers, and we hope to continue to innovate so that we make our ride-hailing service a convenient, safe and cost-effective mode of transportation for everyone. This collaboration not only enhances the convenience for Indian travelers but also supports our mission to drive digital transformation in Sri Lanka’s transportation sector. By enabling QR payments, we are making travel easier and safer for tourists while also providing a new revenue stream for our drivers.”
The collaboration follows the launch of PhonePe last month, wherein the Indian High Commissioner H.E. Santosh Jha had urged companies in Sri Lanka to engage with Indian companies to build on the UPI stack for innovations in hotel bookings, cab bookings, delivery services etc. The High Commissioner commended such collaborations saying, “I am confident that with greater commercial engagement in the fintech sector, India and Sri Lanka will unlock innovation and transformation in the digital domain.”
Sri Lanka is one of the most popular destinations among Indian travelers. This collaboration underscores PhonePe’s commitment to adding more value to the overall experience of Indian travelers by allowing them to use familiar services like UPI during their visit.
