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The central banks of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan have agreed to develop a mechanism for linking their national QR (quick response) code payment systems by the end of 2026, the National Bank of Kazakhstan said on October 29. The agreement was reached at the fourth regional meeting of central bank representatives, held in Tajikistan on October 22–23. Participants supported Kazakhstan’s proposed approach to linking the systems. According to the bank, integration would allow citizens of these countries to pay for goods and services by scanning QR codes through their own bank’s app while visiting other participating countries. Users would also be able to send and receive cross-border transfers in real time. At the meeting, Kazakhstan shared its experience with the Interbank Mobile Payment System, which supports transfers using phone numbers and QR code payments. Launched nationwide in July 2026, the system allows customers to pay through their own banking app even when a merchant uses a payment terminal provided by another bank. Under Kazakhstan’s domestic system, payments using the unified QR code are free for customers. Merchants pay a fee, but the charge for an interbank QR payment must not exceed the fee for an equivalent card payment. The regional meeting also covered cybersecurity and payment fraud. Kazakhstan proposed sharing information and coordinating approaches to regulating digital assets. In May 2026, Kyrgyzstan connected to the international Alipay+ payment network. According to the operator of the national Elkart payment system, the service was initially available in Kazakhstan and Malaysia, allowing users to make purchases through the Elkart Mobile app.
Kyrgyzstan has launched international QR payments through Alipay+, allowing users of the national Elkart payment system to pay for purchases abroad through a mobile app without relying on cash or foreign payment apps. The launch of the project was announced by the Interbank Processing Center, operator of the national payment system Elkart, with support from the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan. According to the payment operator, the system is already functioning in Kazakhstan and Malaysia, while another 57 countries are expected to join the network within the next month. China is also scheduled to connect to the platform on June 15, enabling Kyrgyz users to pay through a unified QR infrastructure at millions of retail locations. “For Kyrgyzstan, this is a historic event and another important step in the development of the country’s digital financial ecosystem,” Elkart said in a statement. National Bank Chairman Almaz Baketaev described the launch of international QR payments as part of a national strategy to digitalize the financial market. “The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan places special emphasis on implementing modern digital solutions that simplify the integration of our financial system into the global space,” Baketaev said during a press conference in Bishkek. Authorities and market participants expect the new system to simplify payments for tourists, labor migrants, and businesses amid Kyrgyzstan’s expanding economic ties with China and other Asian countries. Integration of the payment systems began in September last year. Representatives of the processing center said the technical integration was completed in a relatively short period of time. Over the past five years, Kyrgyzstan has actively developed its digital financial infrastructure. According to the National Bank, more than 114,000 QR codes have already been installed at retail and service businesses across the country. In 2025, approximately 525 million transactions worth around $10.3 billion were processed through the national system, roughly ten times higher in transaction volume than the previous year.
