Apple Pay, Google Pay Launch in Uzbekistan After Data Reforms Open Fintech Market

Uzbekistan has launched Apple Pay and Google Pay for locally issued cards, the Central Bank confirmed, following regulatory changes that eased restrictions on storing personal data abroad and opened the market to international payment providers. The 27 October announcement by Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the presidential administration, follows March 2026 amendments to personal data legislation and her September meeting with Google Vice President Karan Bhatia in New York. The central bank said work is underway to extend the services to cards issued through domestic networks Uzcard and HUMO, without giving a timetable. Apple Pay initially supports Visa and Mastercard cards from eight institutions: Uzum Bank, Orient Finans Bank, the National Bank of Uzbekistan, Kapitalbank, Hamkorbank, Ipak Yuli Bank, TBC Bank and Octobank. Google Pay supports nine banks, adding AVO Bank and Aloqabank. The rollout coincides with the central bank's National Fintech Strategy for 2026–2030, approved in September, covering cross-border payments, Open Banking and investment attraction.