WhatsApp Global Head To Visit India To Meet RBI, NPCI Officials

WhatsApp’s new global head, Will Cathcart, will be visiting India this week to meet officials of the Reserves Bank of India (RBI) and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)  to discuss the steps taken by the company to meet data localisation norms for its planned payment service, people familiar with developments told Economic Times.

He is also scheduled to meet Niti Aayog Chief executive Amitabh Kant at an event organised by WhatsApp on Thursday. The event is on the need for digital inclusion and its business application. He will also meet leaders of small and medium businesses (SMEs) in Mumbai.

A WhatsApp spokesperson did not confirm or deny meetings with RBI and NPCI officials. However, he said that Cathcart will meet leaders to discuss WhatsApp’s support for Digital India and how the messaging service can help entrepreneurs and small businesses drive economic growth, as per the reports.

“Cathcart is traveling to India his new role at Facebook as global head of WhatsApp. The WhatsApp team remains deeply committed to serving the people of India with private messaging that helps connect loved ones and helps businesses grow,” the spokesperson said.―BFSI