Uzbekistan's HUMO Partners with Alipay+ for Cross-Border QR Payments

In an exciting development for digital payments, Uzbekistan's national payment system, HUMO, has partnered with Ant International's Alipay+ to facilitate cross-border QR payments. This strategic alliance will enable users of Uzbek digital payment apps to make seamless payments across Alipay+'s vast global merchant network.

Expanding Global Reach

As the tenth national QR network to join hands with Alipay+, HUMO is set to significantly enhance the payment experience for its users. Initially, customers traveling from Uzbekistan will be able to make payments in their native currency, the Uzbek som, in over 50 countries, including major destinations like China, the United States, UAE, and Thailand. This integration promises a smoother payment process for retail, dining, and transportation needs, covering every aspect of a traveler's journey.

Alipay+ has already established partnerships with 40 e-wallets and bank apps, as well as 10 national QR payment schemes worldwide. This extensive network connects over 100 million merchants to a staggering 1.8 billion consumer accounts, creating unprecedented growth opportunities for businesses around the globe. For Uzbek merchants, this partnership opens doors to a vast array of international customers, driving economic expansion and increasing profitability.

Innovative Technology and New Opportunities

With its roots as a cross-border payment technology solution, Alipay+ is committed to fostering global connectivity. Its collaboration with global e-wallet partners is complemented by advanced AI payments, marketing, and digitalization technologies. These innovations are not only redefining travel habits but also enhancing payment security and promoting inclusive economic growth.

One such innovation is the Alipay+ Voyager, an AI travel agent embedded into digital wallets. This service aims to enrich the travel experience by providing personalized interactions, thus enhancing engagement between partner wallets and travelers. As digital wallets increasingly become the preferred payment method worldwide, Alipay+ ensures secure transactions through the "Digital Wallet Guardian Partnership." This initiative introduces the Alipay+ EasySafePay 360 solution, an AI-powered protection system designed to safeguard user privacy and reduce account takeover risks by up to 90%.

A Milestone Partnership

Maksad Mukhitdinov, the First Deputy to the Chairman of the Board at HUMO, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, emphasizing the growth opportunities it presents for businesses. HUMO, an integral part of Uzbekistan's payment system, is currently connected with 35 local banks and 42 non-bank financial institutions. This collaboration with Alipay+ not only facilitates global travel for Uzbek users but also boosts local businesses by attracting international tourists.

Edward Yue, Alipay+'s General Manager for SEA, ANZ, and South Asia, highlighted the significant reach of this partnership across Central Asia. The payment link aims to enhance the travel experience for Uzbek tourists by offering easy payment solutions, attractive offers, and digital services. This will not only benefit travelers but also support local merchants in welcoming international visitors, thereby bolstering Uzbekistan's tourism economy.

About Alipay+

Ant International's Alipay+ serves as a global wallet gateway, offering cross-border payment and digitization services that connect global merchants to consumers. Travelers enjoy the convenience of seamless payments, a broad selection of deals, and digital services using their preferred payment apps or e-wallets. Many small and medium-sized enterprises have already adopted Alipay+ digital tools to enhance operational efficiency and achieve omni-channel growth.

This partnership marks a significant step forward in the digital payment landscape, bringing together the strengths of Uzbekistan's national payment system and Alipay+'s global reach. As the collaboration unfolds, it promises to create new opportunities for users, merchants, and the broader economy alike.