Very simple, easy: Netherlands PM Mark Rutte fascinated by India's UPI system

Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who recently participated in the G20 Summit held in Delhi, arrived in Bengaluru on Monday, where he took the time to explore India's digital payment ecosystem and express his admiration for the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) method.

Rutte's visit to Bengaluru included a stop at Church Street, a bustling area in the city. During his visit, the Dutch PM decided to try out the UPI application at a café and was captivated by the experience. He described it as "simple and easy," emphasising how impressed he was with the efficiency of the system.

When asked about his experience of making a purchase using the UPI interface, Rutte shared his thoughts with reporters, saying, "It looks very simple and easy... It was fascinating to go through the experience."

The UPI system garnered significant attention at the G20 Summit, where four major Indian banks—State Bank of India (SBI), Axis Bank, Canara Bank, and ICICI Bank—had introduced dedicated UPI apps for the convenience of G20 delegates. These apps provided users with a digital currency balance of Rs 2,000 to facilitate transactions. The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) has been actively promoting UPI in international markets since 2021, making it accessible in 20 countries.

Taking to 'X' (formerly Twitter), the Netherlands Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the strong economic ties between India and the Netherlands. He highlighted the presence of over 350 Dutch companies conducting business in India and underscored the shared entrepreneurial spirit and innovation capacity of the two nations.

"The Netherlands and India have wide-ranging economic ties. Over 350 Dutch companies do business here. India and the Netherlands also share the same enterprising spirit and capacity for innovation. We work together in areas like agriculture and water management, and more opportunities are opening up all the time," Rutte tweeted.

The Netherlands and India have wide-ranging economic ties. Over 350 Dutch companies do business here. India and the Netherlands also share the same enterprising spirit and capacity for innovation. We work together in areas like agriculture and water management, and more… pic.twitter.com/qqfqYO7RQR

— Mark Rutte (@MinPres) September 11, 2023

Providing insights into the purpose of his visit to Bengaluru, Rutte mentioned, "This was the focus of my trip to Bangalore, in the south of India. A large delegation of representatives of Dutch businesses and knowledge institutions is here on an economic mission led by @VNONCW President Ingrid Thijssen. Great to see how the Netherlands and India are working together in many different areas. I discussed this and other topics with Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar of the state of Karnataka."

Additionally, Mark Rutte inaugurated the new offices of the Dutch Consulate-General during his visit, expressing gratitude to the Netherlands Embassy in India for their efforts in facilitating his successful visit to India.

"I had the honour to open the new offices of the Dutch Consulate-General. I'd like to thank the fantastic Netherlands Embassy in India team for all their hard work in helping to make my visit to India a success," Rutte remarked.