On the sidelines of the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with President of Cuba, H.E. Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez to enhance cooperation across multiple areas, with a special focus on fintech and digital public infrastructure.
The two leaders reviewed bilateral ties and discussed collaboration in sectors including economic cooperation, development partnership, fintech, capacity building, disaster management, healthcare, and science and technology.
Notably, President Diaz-Canel expressed Cuba’s keen interest in India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and its wider Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), acknowledging India’s leadership in building scalable and inclusive digital systems.
India’s UPI, now internationally recognized as a model for real-time, low-cost digital payments, was highlighted as a major area of cooperation. The Cuban president’s interest signals growing global recognition of India’s fintech capabilities. Prime Minister Modi welcomed this interest and reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting fintech innovation and collaboration with nations like Cuba.
Additionally, both leaders discussed enhancing access to Indian generic medicines, with the Prime Minister proposing Cuba’s recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia. He also appreciated Cuba’s recognition of Ayurveda and offered India’s support to integrate it into Cuba’s public health systems.
The meeting comes as part of India’s broader effort to support Global South countries through technology-driven solutions, particularly in digital finance and healthcare. The leaders agreed to work closely on shared global concerns such as pandemic preparedness, climate change, and equitable access to technology.
During the BRICS Outreach Summit, Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the increasing importance of fintech and digital inclusion. He emphasized the role of BRICS institutions like the New Development Bank (NDB) in supporting development across the Global South through demand-driven, sustainable financing.