In a landmark move to expand India’s digital payments footprint, NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL) has signed a commercial agreement with Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre JSC (NIPC), operator of the national payment system HUMO.
The partnership, announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral visit to Uzbekistan, enables Indian tourists, business travellers, and students to make instant merchant payments by scanning Uzbekistan’s national interoperable QR code, UZQR, using their familiar UPI‑enabled apps.
The agreement, backed by approvals from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU), designates HUMO as NIPL’s authorised partner for cross‑border merchant acceptance.
Key Highlights
- Universal Merchant Acceptance: UPI users gain near‑universal acceptance across retail, hospitality, and service merchants in Uzbekistan.
- Seamless Travel Experience: Direct person‑to‑merchant payments from Indian bank accounts eliminate forex markup friction and reduce reliance on cards or cash.
- Strengthened Bilateral Ties: The initiative advances digital public infrastructure cooperation, aligning with both nations’ strategic and economic goals.
With this, UPI acceptance now spans 10 countries — Singapore, UAE, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Greece — offering Indian travellers seamless payment experiences abroad.
