Singapore and Indonesia launch cross-border QR-code payments; republic also have links with China, Thailand and Malaysia

SINGAPORE/JAKARTA (AFP): Singapore and Indonesia launched cross-border payment services Friday, the countries' central banks said, as part of a regional drive to boost connectivity.

Customers of a dozen banks in Singapore and Indonesia will now be able to make payments to merchants in both countries by scanning QR codes, Bank Indonesia and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said in a joint statement.