As a public sector lender, Union Bank of India became the first bank in the country to open a special Vostro rupee account through its correspondent bank in Malaysia i.e. International Bank of India of Malaysia.
This means that trade between India and Malaysia can now be paid in Indian rupees, in addition to existing payment methods in other currencies.
The move follows the decision of the Reserve Bank of India last July to allow international trade payments in the Indian currency.
”Trade between India and Malaysia can now be settled in Indian Rupee (INR) in addition to the current modes of settlement in other currencies,” the MEA said.
”This follows the decision by the Reserve Bank of India in July 2022 to allow settlement of international trade in Indian Rupee,” it said in a statement.
The MEA said the RBI’s initiative is aimed at facilitating the growth of trade and supporting the interests of the global trading community in the Indian rupee.
”India International Bank of Malaysia (IIBM), based in Kuala Lumpur, has operationalised this mechanism by opening a special Rupee Vostro account through its corresponding bank in India that is Union Bank of India,” it said.
Vostro accounts are used to make payments in domestic currency.