Kathmandu — In a strategic move to enhance Nepal’s digital payment ecosystem, Nepal Clearing House Ltd. (NCHL) and Mastercard have joined forces to make it easier for international tourists to make payments using mobile QR technology.

The partnership will allow Mastercard users visiting Nepal to make seamless payments at NepalPay QR and other interoperable QR merchant locations using their smartphones. This integration aims to simplify transactions for tourists, aligning with Nepal’s growing focus on becoming a cashless economy.

According to NCHL, over 1 million merchants across Nepal currently accept QR payments through the NepalPay and other interoperable networks. With Mastercard having issued over 3 billion cards globally, the collaboration is expected to drive significant traction in digital transactions within the country.

Established with the joint investment of Nepal Rastra Bank and various banks and financial institutions, NCHL operates multiple digital payment services such as electronic cheque clearing, interbank payment systems, National Payment Switch, and connectIPS.

This partnership signals a leap forward in making Nepal more digitally accessible for global travelers, while also supporting the broader digital transformation goals of the country.