India and Uzbekistan Join Forces for Seamless Digital Payments
NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL), the global wing of India’s National Payments Corporation, has struck a significant commercial partnership with Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre JSC (NIPC). Officially signed on August 30, 2026, the agreement allows Indian travelers to effortlessly scan Uzbekistan’s national interoperable QR code, UZQR, using their UPI-enabled apps for instant merchant transactions throughout the country.
This landmark announcement was made during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Uzbekistan. The partnership comes on the heels of essential endorsements from both nations’ financial regulators, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU). As a result, HUMO has been designated as NIPL’s authorized partner for cross-border merchant acceptance.
Key Features of the Partnership
The collaboration promises to deliver numerous benefits to UPI users, primarily focusing on universal merchant acceptance. By leveraging CBU’s Unified National QR infrastructure (UZQR), Indian travelers will experience near-universal acceptance when visiting retail, hospitality, and service providers across Uzbekistan.
The agreement also enhances the travel experience for Indian tourists, business personnel, and students. With this initiative, users can execute direct person-to-merchant (P2M) payments directly from their Indian bank accounts, effectively sidestepping foreign exchange markups and minimizing dependency on international credit cards or cash transactions.
Furthermore, this partnership represents a significant step toward strengthening bilateral relations between India and Uzbekistan. It underscores both nations’ commitment to advancing digital public infrastructure and aligning with overarching strategic and economic agendas.
UPI’s Growing Global Reach
The UPI system is rapidly gaining traction worldwide, now accepted in ten countries, including Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Greece. This widespread acceptance enables Indian travelers to make seamless payments while abroad, enhancing the convenience of international transactions.
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