New Delhi, Sep 1: India’s digital payments ecosystem is taking another step towards global expansion as NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) partners with Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre (NIPC) to enable UPI-based merchant payments across the country.
Under the new arrangement, Indian tourists, business travellers and students visiting Uzbekistan will be able to use their UPI-enabled applications to scan the country’s UZQR code and make payments at participating merchants.
The commercial agreement between NIPL, the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India, and NIPC, which operates Uzbekistan’s HUMO payment system, was signed on August 30 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Uzbekistan.
The partnership follows approvals from the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan. HUMO has been designated as NIPL’s authorised partner for cross-border merchant acceptance.
The integration of UPI with Uzbekistan’s national QR infrastructure is expected to make everyday payments easier for Indian visitors. Travellers will be able to pay directly from their Indian bank accounts, reducing the need to carry large amounts of cash or depend entirely on international payment cards.
The development could also benefit Uzbekistan’s tourism, hospitality, retail and service sectors by making payments more convenient for Indian visitors. Hotels, restaurants, shops and other merchants can gain access to another digital payment channel as the movement of Indian travellers between the two countries grows.
From India’s perspective, the agreement strengthens the international presence of UPI and highlights the expanding role of Indian digital payment technology in cross-border commerce.
The partnership also creates scope for deeper cooperation in financial technology, digital payments and related services between the two countries. For businesses, easier payment connectivity can support tourism spending, trade-related travel and other commercial activities.
UPI is already accepted in several international markets, including Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Greece.
The addition of Uzbekistan further expands the international footprint of the Indian payment platform and strengthens India’s efforts to promote digital payment connectivity with partner countries.
The agreement comes at a time when QR-based payments are becoming increasingly important in international travel. For consumers and businesses alike, interoperable digital payment systems can make cross-border transactions faster, simpler and more accessible.
The India-Uzbekistan partnership therefore goes beyond a payment arrangement, offering potential benefits for tourism, retail, hospitality, fintech and wider economic engagement between the two countries.