The official payment system’s sponsor of the ensuing 28th SEA Games in Singapore, UnionPay International, has stepped forward to support the Cambodian delegation in the June 5 to 16 regional sporting spectacle to the tune of $12,800 in sponsorship value, it was announced yesterday.

UPI has also extended similar backing to the Vietnamese delegation heading to the city state.

The UPI deal with the Singapore Southeast Asian Games organising Committee was announced on May 14 as the subsidiary of China UnionPay is beginning to build its influence to become an international brand.

Apart from its main sponsorship role in the Singapore Games, the UPI has now signed an agreement with the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, offering its encouragement for the Kingdom’s 256-strong squad.

The $12,800 sponsorship deal will cover $400 for each individual medalist (a maximum of 12 medals or $4,800), $5,000 for SEA Games media coverage in Cambodia including, print, TV and radio advertisements, and $3,000 to the Cambodian U23 football team.

“Cambodia is a stable market for UnionPay, one where 78 per cent of merchants and 85 per cent of ATMs accept UnionPay cards. Sponsoring the Cambodian delegation will further strengthen relationships with our local partners,’’ UPI Indochina general manager Xie Dejian said yesterday.

“In addition, sport represents courage, extraordinary value and friendship – values that UPI always pursues, and the SEA Games is the perfect opportunity for UPI to deliver the sporting spirit,” he said.

“As new sponsors, UnionPay International will strengthen our support base and comes as another layer of encouragement for our athletes to perform well in Singapore,” the secretary-general of the NOCC, Vath Chamroeun, said.