Fonepay has integrated UnionPay International into its QR payment network, allowing UnionPay users from several countries and regions to make QR-based payments at more than 2 million merchants across Nepal.

Fonepay announced the partnership on Wednesday during an event in Kathmandu attended by representatives from Nepal Rastra Bank, the Nepal Tourism Board, banks and financial institutions, business groups and media organisations.

The integration enables UnionPay users from markets including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore to make payments through Fonepay QR-enabled merchants across Nepal.

Diwas Kumar, chief executive officer of Fonepay, said the partnership marked a major step in strengthening Nepal’s digital payment ecosystem and improving global payment connectivity.

He said integrating one of the world’s largest payment networks into Fonepay’s QR infrastructure would help position Nepal as a destination ready for global digital payments.

Zhuang Bei, vice president of UnionPay International, said Nepal’s growing tourism economy and extensive QR merchant network offered strong opportunities for digital payment expansion.

According to Fonepay, Nepal welcomed more than 1.15 million tourists in 2025, with many visitors arriving from UnionPay-dominant markets in Asia. The company said tourists previously relied heavily on cash because their preferred digital payment systems were not widely accepted in Nepal.

Under the new arrangement, merchants using Fonepay QR can directly accept payments from international customers using UnionPay apps.

Fonepay said the partnership would help reduce payment friction for foreign travellers and increase revenue opportunities for merchants serving international customers.

The company said its international payment network now connects with wallets and payment systems in more than 13 countries through partnerships including Alipay+ and India’s UPI system.