OMM Newsroom
People travelling to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan may soon be able to use their own banking apps to make purchases. The five countries’ central banks are working to link their national payment systems.
Representatives of the five central banks agreed to develop mechanisms for connecting their national QR payment systems, AnewZ reported. The discussions took place at a regional meeting in Tajikistan.
Once the systems are connected, users will be able to scan QR codes and use their existing mobile banking apps to pay for goods and services abroad. For example, an Uzbek citizen travelling to Kazakhstan could make a QR payment through their banking app while shopping. The same option is envisaged for visitors from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan.
The countries’ central banks agreed to establish a working group to explore interoperability between their national payment platforms. The group will focus on linking instant payment systems, standardising QR payment formats and ensuring compatibility between national infrastructure.
The working group is also expected to draw up a roadmap for the systems’ phased integration. According to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, the countries agreed to develop specific mechanisms for QR payment interoperability by the end of 2026.
The meeting also considered ways to share information on financial fraud and cyber threats. The use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies to monitor payments was also discussed.
Kazakhstan presented its experience in digital financial infrastructure, including the digital tenge, open banking and an interbank mobile payment system. Kyrgyzstan outlined its national “ELQR” standard and plans for a fast payment system.
The initiative is still under development. The working group must determine how the different payment systems will be connected and set common technical and security requirements. No launch date for the system has been announced.
