Nepal’s leading payment system operator, Fonepay, has entered into a landmark partnership with Alipay+, unlocking cross-border QR payments and advancing Nepal’s digital transformation. The deal, signed at a special ceremony attended by officials from Nepal Rastra Bank, Nepal Tourism Board, banks, tour operators, and business leaders, positions Nepal as a digitally accessible and tourist-friendly destination.
Fonepay currently holds an 80% market share in Nepal’s digital payments sector, powering mobile banking apps, wallets, and QR transactions. Through this collaboration, more than 1.7 million Fonepay QR merchants in Nepal can now accept payments from Alipay+ users across 11 countries, including China, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, the Philippines, and Germany. Visitors simply scan a Fonepay QR code with their home e-wallets to complete transactions securely, eliminating the need for currency exchange or cash.
Edward Yu, General Manager at Ant International, described the initiative as a boost to Nepal’s payments and tourism ecosystem, strengthening digital infrastructure and fostering economic opportunities. Fonepay CEO Diwas Kumar Sapkota highlighted the integration as a milestone for global interoperability and financial inclusion, expanding access for international consumers while empowering Nepali businesses and SMEs.
The partnership builds on Fonepay’s PCI DSS-certified secure network and reinforces its mission to modernize Nepal’s financial ecosystem. By bridging global wallets with local merchants, the initiative enhances trade, cultural exchange, and tourism — helping to establish Nepal as a hub for digital payments and international commerce.
