Indian travellers can now use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to make payments directly to merchants in Uzbekistan, following a commercial agreement signed on August 30 between NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre (NIPC), which operates the HUMO payment system, according to medianama.com.
The agreement allows Indian users to scan Uzbekistan’s national interoperable QR code, UZQR, through their existing UPI apps to pay merchants instantly. HUMO has been designated as NIPL’s authorised partner for managing cross-border merchant acceptance. The deal was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral visit to Uzbekistan and received approval from the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan.
This arrangement enables UPI users to make person-to-merchant payments across Uzbekistan by scanning UZQR codes, reducing dependence on international cards and cash. Since HUMO’s QR network is mandated by Uzbekistan’s central bank for retail, hospitality, and service outlets, UPI is expected to achieve near-universal merchant acceptance. Payments will be debited directly from Indian bank accounts, lowering foreign exchange markup costs for travellers compared to international card usage.
HUMO has established other cross-border payment partnerships, including with Ant International’s Alipay. The UPI-Uzbekistan integration marks a significant step in expanding India’s digital payment footprint internationally, effective from the agreement date on August 30, 2026.