Trinidad and Tobago Becomes First Caribbean Nation to Adopt India’s UPI Platform

Trinidad and Tobago has become the first country in the Caribbean region to agree to roll out India’s Unified Payments Interface, marking a major step in India’s expanding digital diplomacy and fintech outreach. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said the move reflects the growing depth of India’s partnership with Trinidad and Tobago, a relationship shaped by history, people-to-people bonds, democratic values and shared development goals.

In an opinion article published in the Trinidad and Tobago Daily Express, Dr. Jaishankar said the relationship between the two countries stands on a unique foundation of historical experience and modern cooperation. Both nations, he noted, share a past shaped by colonialism and a later journey defined by sovereignty, democratic choice and nation-building. He said India and Trinidad and Tobago, as vibrant democracies and market economies, continue to draw strength from diversity and pluralism.

The adoption of UPI is significant because it brings India’s globally recognised digital payment infrastructure to the Caribbean. UPI has transformed everyday transactions in India by enabling fast, seamless and low-cost payments, and its international expansion is increasingly becoming a part of India’s technology partnership with friendly nations. For Trinidad and Tobago, the rollout could support easier digital payments, strengthen financial connectivity and open new opportunities for fintech cooperation with India.

Dr. Jaishankar also highlighted the economic progress in bilateral ties, noting that trade between India and Trinidad and Tobago has almost doubled in the last five years and has now reached around 350 million dollars. Energy has emerged as a central pillar of engagement between the two countries, especially at a time when global commodity markets remain volatile and energy security has become a major concern for many nations.

Beyond energy, trade is also growing in sectors such as health and pharmaceuticals, automobiles and machinery, iron and steel, textiles and garments. These expanding links show that the India-Trinidad and Tobago relationship is moving beyond historical goodwill into a wider economic and strategic partnership.

The UPI agreement adds a strong digital dimension to this relationship. It also underlines India’s increasing role as a provider of affordable, scalable and trusted digital public infrastructure. For the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago’s decision could become a model for wider regional engagement with India’s digital payment ecosystem.

At a time when global uncertainties are reshaping international partnerships, Dr. Jaishankar said India and Trinidad and Tobago must use their deep complementarities to build a stronger and more stable relationship. The UPI rollout, rising trade and shared democratic values together signal a new phase in India’s engagement with the Caribbean.