Apple Pay and Google Pay Begin Operating in Uzbekistan
Economy
Apple Pay and Google Pay have begun operating in Uzbekistan. On October 27, users were able to link local bank cards to the digital wallets, although Google announced its launch on October 19.
Apple Wallet displayed a list of eight banks and fintech services. Uzum supports Visa; Orient Finans Bank, the National Bank of Uzbekistan, Kapitalbank, Ipak Yuli Bank, TBC Bank and Octobank support Visa and Mastercard; Hamkorbank supports Visa. Apple notes that some banks may not support every card type and says the list will be updated as partners join. At the time of the report, Uzbekistan was not on Apple’s official list of countries supporting Apple Pay.
Google already lists Uzbekistan among countries where Google Wallet, contactless payments and the web wallet are available. Cards from nine banks can be linked to Google Pay: AVO Bank (Mastercard), Octobank (Visa and Mastercard), Uzum Bank (Visa), TBC Bank, Aloqabank, Kapitalbank, Ipak Yuli Bank, the National Bank of Uzbekistan and Orient Finans Bank. The last six support Visa and Mastercard. Payments work with compatible Android phones, Wear OS watches and Fitbit devices.
On October 19, Google Cloud representative Marcin Krasuski announced Google Pay at a digital technology event in Samarkand held alongside Central Asian and US meetings in the C5+1 format. On October 22, Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee said Google Pay was working and Apple Pay was expected soon, but later deleted the post. It said integration involved the Central Bank, commercial banks and payment systems HUMO and Uzcard.
Preparations accelerated after a law signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on March 26 allowed certain personal data to be stored and processed abroad under specified conditions. Data localisation had been an obstacle to the services’ market entry. Requirements to keep biometric and genetic data, as well as local telecom subscribers’ data, inside Uzbekistan remained in force. In July, the Central Bank reported technical preparations and card tokenisation, including for national HUMO and Uzcard cards. The rollout expands digital payment choice nationwide.
Google already lists Uzbekistan among countries where Google Wallet, contactless payments and the web wallet are available. Cards from nine banks can be linked to Google Pay: AVO Bank (Mastercard), Octobank (Visa and Mastercard), Uzum Bank (Visa), TBC Bank, Aloqabank, Kapitalbank, Ipak Yuli Bank, the National Bank of Uzbekistan and Orient Finans Bank. The last six support Visa and Mastercard. Payments work with compatible Android phones, Wear OS watches and Fitbit devices.
On October 19, Google Cloud representative Marcin Krasuski announced Google Pay at a digital technology event in Samarkand held alongside Central Asian and US meetings in the C5+1 format. On October 22, Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee said Google Pay was working and Apple Pay was expected soon, but later deleted the post. It said integration involved the Central Bank, commercial banks and payment systems HUMO and Uzcard.
Preparations accelerated after a law signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on March 26 allowed certain personal data to be stored and processed abroad under specified conditions. Data localisation had been an obstacle to the services’ market entry. Requirements to keep biometric and genetic data, as well as local telecom subscribers’ data, inside Uzbekistan remained in force. In July, the Central Bank reported technical preparations and card tokenisation, including for national HUMO and Uzcard cards. The rollout expands digital payment choice nationwide.
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