Singapore/Indonesia
he central banks of Indonesia and Singapore have unveiled plans to implement QR codes for facilitating seamless cross-border payments between the two nations. The initiative, led by Bank Indonesia (BI) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), is poised to revolutionize the payment landscape and is anticipated to be operational by the close of the current year.
The strategic decision to integrate QR code technology into their respective payment systems was initially announced in August 2022. Despite mutual enthusiasm from both nations, the progress was notably modest in the intervening period. However, according to Bank Indonesia’s deputy governor Filianingsih Hendarta, the venture has now achieved a significant milestone, with beta testing almost 75% complete.
Singapore, a stalwart in payment innovation, had previously introduced what it touted as the world’s premier unified payments QR code in 2018, thereby earning itself a pioneering role in the sector. Over the last half-decade, the Southeast Asian nation has consistently maintained its dominance, successfully piloting cross-border payment trials with Malaysia. Moreover, Indonesia and Thailand have also taken strides by linking their individual payment systems.
Notably, recent PayTech developments in the region include Visa’s momentous launch of Apple Pay in the Vietnamese market. This move is widely seen as a substantial leap forward in propelling cashless payments within the country. For the very first time, customers will be empowered to utilize Apple Pay in conjunction with their Visa cards, thereby embracing a secure and seamlessly integrated payment method.
Leading financial institutions in the region, such as Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ACB), Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB), Sacombank, Techcombank Vietcombank, and VPBank, have all pledged their commitment to integrating this novel product into their services. This collaboration is poised to redefine the payments landscape across the continent.
As the adoption of QR code-based cross-border payments gains momentum, experts predict that this collaborative endeavor between Indonesia and Singapore will not only enhance the efficiency of financial transactions but also serve as a harbinger of further advancements in the realm of digital payments on a global scale.
