Building coalitions with other WTO members to help India push for adoption of open payment systems: GTRI

27 Feb 2024 Evaluate

The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has said that building coalitions with other World Trade Organization (WTO) members will help India push for the adoption of open and interoperable payment systems like UPI with a view to cut the cost of money transfers or remittances. It said the dominance of a few large players in the market contributes to these high costs, through complex and opaque fee structures.

GTRI stated that India’s recommendations to tackle this include encouraging digital transfers, fostering interoperable systems, promoting competition, streamlining regulations, and enhancing pricing transparency. It said that this proposal is driven by India’s belief that such systems can streamline global digital payments, and cut costs by fostering innovation and competition in the remittance market. This will not only benefit individual families but also contribute to broader economic development and poverty reduction efforts. It added that the challenge of high remittance costs, averaging 6.18 per cent globally ‘well above the United Nation‘s target of 3 per cent’ is a key issue India aims to address.

The report further said that implementing policies that encourage competition in the remittance market can drive down prices and improve service quality, and regulatory frameworks should be streamlined to balance financial security concerns with facilitating efficient and affordable remittance flows. It added that ensuring clear and transparent pricing structures allow senders to make informed decisions and choose the most cost-effective options.


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