India, Sep 01: IDA Ireland, the national agency dedicated to helping global businesses expand in Ireland, has announced its participation in the Global Fintech Fest 2026, being held from September 8–11 at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai to bring a unique European fintech proposition to Indian companies.
Attending the event is Seán McWilliams, Head – Fintech & Payments, IDA Ireland, alongside Kanishk Kumar, Country Director – India, IDA Ireland. At the Global Fintech Fest, they will engage with key stakeholders and discuss the opportunities emerging at the intersection of India’s fintech capabilities and Ireland’s international financial-services ecosystem.
India push for digitisation has affected a revolution in its financial services sector, spearheaded by its fintech firms. The meteoric rise of UPI, processing over ₹314 lakh crore in FY2025–26 and capturing nearly half of global real-time payment volumes, is proof of the depth and scale at which Indian fintechs are operating. Now, as Indian fintech companies set their sights on global expansion across B2B payments, merchant services, and cross-border finance, particularly in the EU, Ireland stands ready to serve as a strategic partner supporting their international growth ambitions.
Ireland’s financial-services ecosystem further strengthens its proposition for Indian fintechs. Home to 22 of the world’s top 25 financial-services institutions and a strong fintech cluster including Mastercard, PayPal, Stripe and Fiserv, Ireland offers deep financial expertise, regulatory infrastructure and access to the wider EU market.
The timing also coincides with Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which runs from July to December 2026. With competitiveness, the Single Market, and financial-sector priorities forming part of its agenda, the Presidency further places Ireland at the centre of conversations shaping Europe’s economic and financial landscape.
Speaking on participating in GFF 2026, Seán McWilliams, Head – Fintech & Payments, IDA Ireland said,
“India’s fintech story has become a global benchmark, demonstrating how innovation can be built and deployed at unprecedented scale. I am excited to be in Mumbai for Global Fintech Fest and to engage with the companies shaping what comes next for financial services. As Indian fintechs take their next steps into international markets, Ireland can provide the European platform to turn proven technology and ideas into businesses with a wider global footprint.”
Kanishk Kumar, Country Director, India – IDA Ireland, added,
“Global Fintech Fest brings together a vibrant community of innovators and businesses shaping where financial services are headed, making it an important platform for us to engage with India’s fintech ecosystem. The opportunity between India and Ireland is particularly compelling given the strengths we bring to the table — India’s technology, scale, and innovation, and Ireland’s international financial-services expertise and access to the European market. As more Indian companies set their sights on global growth, we see an opportunity to strengthen this corridor and support their journey into new markets.”
A growing number of Indian fintech companies are already beginning to see Ireland as a gateway to Europe. Juspay is one such example, having established its European hub in Dublin in 2024 to support its international expansion and serve a growing customer base across the region. The move highlights Ireland’s potential as a strategic base for Indian fintechs looking to scale across European markets.
The opportunity also aligns with Ireland’s broader focus on strengthening its international financial-services ecosystem through the Ireland for Finance 2026 strategy, which identifies operating environment, technology and innovation, talent, and communications as key pillars for the sector’s development.