Why trust is the new currency in Indian fintech

The biggest takeaway from a fintech and cybersecurity mission to India was clear: the next phase of opportunity is no longer about moving money; it is about protecting trust. 

As artificial intelligence, real-time payments and digital services scale rapidly across India, customers, regulators and enterprises are increasingly focused on cybersecurity, digital identity, fraud prevention, privacy and responsible AI. 

These are capabilities where Australian companies are exceptionally well positioned to contribute – and that were highlighted during the mission to Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai.

Powered by the Accessing New Markets Initiative (ANMI) and delivered by Austrade in partnership with Trade Diversification Network (TDN) member FinTech Australia, the mission brought together 17 Australian companies across fintech, cybersecurity, AI, cloud infrastructure and digital trust. 

The program was designed not only to help companies understand the Indian market, but more importantly to accelerate commercial opportunities, diversify export pathways and build longer-term business resilience through strategic partnerships.

Building market knowledge 

The three-day program exposed delegates to India’s fintech landscape through engagements with regulators, ecosystem leaders, technology providers and end customers. 

Austrade facilitated approximately 300 business-to-business meetings with 30 Indian customers. Curated sessions with the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub and National Payments Corporation of India gave delegates valuable insights into India’s regulatory environment, digital public infrastructure and market-entry considerations.  

At Global FinTech Fest, delegates engaged with Cisco, GIFT City, ICICI Bank and Paytm and experienced:

• the scale, sophistication and pace of innovation taking place across India's fintech ecosystem
• the growing role of AI, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure in shaping the future of financial services
• direct exposure to customer priorities, procurement processes and localisation requirements.  

These engagements allowed Australian companies to test their value propositions against real market challenges while gaining a clearer understanding of the pathways to commercial success in India. 

Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner Jodi McKay, Australian Consul-General Paul Murphy, Trade and Investment Commissioner Mary Overington, and Australian delegates inaugurate the Australian Pavilion at Global Fintech Fest 2026.

Focus on cyber resilience 

Indian enterprises are moving beyond AI pilots and are now seeking measurable outcomes in fraud detection, compliance automation, cyber resilience and customer experience. 

The implementation of India’s data protection framework and increasing focus on cyber resilience are driving demand for solutions in identity security, data governance, privacy management, AI assurance and risk monitoring. These priorities align closely with Australia's strengths in trusted technology, regulation, governance and cybersecurity. 

The mission also delivered tangible commercial outcomes and market milestones for participating companies.  

OtherPay continued to strengthen its India presence by progressing partnerships with major financial institutions and expanding its Mumbai operations.  

Securely Group announced plans to establish Securely India Private Limited, marking the culmination of more than 2 years of engagement with Indian regulators, government stakeholders and enterprise partners.  

Ziksu also reached a major milestone, with the Reserve Bank of India approving its acquired Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC).

Opportunities for Australian companies  

Beyond market education, the mission reinforced an important lesson for future exporters: India is a partnership market. Australian firms are most successful when they complement existing ecosystems rather than compete directly with established local players. 

Opportunities increasingly lie in collaborating with banks, fintechs, Global Capability Centres, system integrators and industry platforms seeking specialised expertise in cybersecurity, AI governance, fraud prevention and digital trust.   

As India prepares for the implementation of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), organisations across banking, fintech and digital services are increasingly focused on data governance, privacy-by-design, consent management and cyber resilience. Companies with these capabilities are well placed to seize these opportunities.

Regulatory engagement is becoming increasingly structured through initiatives such as RBIH, GIFT City and industry-led innovation programs. This makes market entry more accessible for firms that bring differentiated capabilities and are willing to collaborate.  

As Australia seeks to diversify export markets and strengthen economic resilience, missions such as this demonstrate the value of combining government support, industry partnerships and targeted market engagement. 

‘The momentum generated during the program suggests that the Australia-India fintech relationship is entering a new phase, one defined not by market exploration, but by co-creation, trusted technology partnerships and shared innovation,’ says Mary Overington, Austrade Trade and Investment Commissioner.