Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan intend to develop cross-border payments using their national QR codes, as well as money transfers between users in the two countries, Kazinform reported.
A memorandum to this effect was signed by the National Payment Corporation of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan's HUMO payment system during the Central Asia FinTech Summit 2026, held in Almaty.
One of the main areas of cooperation will be reciprocal acceptance of the two countries' national QR codes. Once implemented, Uzbek citizens will be able to pay for goods and services in Kazakhstan using the Kazakh national QR code, while Kazakh citizens will be able to make payments in Uzbekistan through the national UzQR system.
Another area of cooperation will be cross-border money transfers. The parties plan to develop a mechanism for sending funds through the mobile applications of banks in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to users' bank cards in the other country.
Zhanar Samaeva, chairwoman of the board of the National Payment Corporation of Kazakhstan, noted that the close economic and humanitarian ties between the two countries are increasing demand for convenient mechanisms for cross-border payments and transfers.
According to her, the signed memorandum will mark the first stage in the practical development of the relevant solutions.
Alexander Sotnikov, chairman of the board of HUMO, said reciprocal acceptance of the national QR codes would allow citizens of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to pay for purchases and services using a familiar method.
The agreement also provides for information and technology exchange, as well as the exploration of other areas of cooperation in payment technologies.
Earlier, Binur Zhalenov, deputy chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, said that the country was working to develop cross-border payments with 11 countries, including China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
A practical launch of the China-related initiative is expected by the end of 2026, while cooperation with other countries is planned to develop in stages.
