Central Asian countries, Azerbaijan explore national QR payment integration

BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 30. Central banks of
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are
exploring the integration of their national QR payment systems to
enable cross-border payments and money transfers, according to the
National Bank of Kazakhstan.

The issue was discussed at the fourth regional meeting of
representatives of the central (national) banks of the five
countries, held in Tajikistan on October 22–23, 2026.

Participants exchanged experience in developing national payment
platforms and instant payment systems, implementing QR code
standards, expanding financial inclusion and cashless payments, and
establishing national remote identification systems.

The National Bank of Kazakhstan presented the progress made in
developing the country’s National Digital Financial Infrastructure,
including the National Payment System, biometric identification
platforms, the digital tenge and open banking, as well as the
National Anti-Fraud Center.

The Kazakh delegation also shared practical experience in
implementing the digital tenge project and launching the Interbank
Mobile Payment System, which enables transfers using phone numbers
and QR code payments.

Particular attention was paid to prospects for cross-border
payments, including approaches to connecting national instant
payment systems and digital currencies. Participants supported
Kazakhstan’s proposals for integrating national QR payment systems
and agreed to work out a specific mechanism for their interaction
by the end of 2026.

Once implemented, the arrangement would allow citizens of
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan to
pay for goods and services using QR codes through their usual
banking apps while traveling in the participating countries. It
would also enable them to send and receive money in real time.

The Kazakh side also proposed joint measures for exchanging
information and developing approaches to the regulation of digital
assets.

The participants discussed ensuring the reliable operation of
payment systems and protecting payment infrastructure against
cyberattacks, the use of artificial intelligence, SupTech and
RegTech in payment system supervision, and current practices for
combating fraud.

Following the meeting, the participants reviewed prospects for
further regional cooperation in payment systems and digital
financial technologies.