The Central Asia-focused fintech firm 8B has teamed up with PayU to incorporate Indian payment systems, including the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), into its merchant network covering Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and neighboring markets.
This integration allows Indian users to make payments to merchants in these countries using familiar methods like UPI, net banking, and cards, without the need for additional onboarding or changes in payment behavior.
Transactions will be processed through the current merchant infrastructure, with UPI functioning as an additional payment option.
For merchants, this means they can directly accept payments from Indian tourists using popular apps and platforms prevalent in India, potentially minimizing friction at checkout and enhancing transaction success rates.
Rohit Mahajan, Founder and CEO of Plutos ONE, emphasized the economic potential, stating, “Indian outbound tourism is currently a significant economic driver, with over 30 million Indians anticipated to travel abroad by 2026, generating $20-25 billion in global tourism revenue. By offering familiar, real-time payment methods like UPI, Indian travelers can spend freely and confidently abroad, improving their experience and boosting economic impact for host countries.”
This initiative aligns with the increasing travel and economic interaction between India and Central Asia. India’s outbound tourism expenditure reached $18.82 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow significantly in the coming decade. Concurrently, Central Asian nations have experienced substantial growth in tourism, with India emerging as a vital source market.
Kazakhstan, for instance, has seen a remarkable rise in Indian visitors, aided by improved air connectivity and visa-free entry. Uzbekistan also reported double-digit growth in arrivals from India in 2025, indicating heightened travel demand.
Experts in the industry assert that the absence of compatible payment infrastructure has been a crucial gap in this developing corridor.
Ravi Gosain, President of IATO, remarked, “The PayU–8B partnership signifies a major leap forward in simplifying international travel for Indian tourists by integrating UPI into Central Asia. By allowing Indian tourists to use familiar payment options while abroad, we enhance convenience and promote increased travel between India and Central Asia.”
Beyond tourism, the integration is anticipated to bolster broader trade flows. India–Kazakhstan bilateral trade reached $923.3 million in 2025, with cross-border consumer transactions forming part of this relationship. The ability to make seamless payments could facilitate Indian consumers in acquiring services and goods from Central Asian businesses more effortlessly.
According to 8B, the partnership links India’s digital payment landscape with Central Asia’s merchant networks, positioning payments as a catalyst for both travel and commerce between the regions.
PayU stated that this collaboration is part of its extensive international expansion strategy, aimed at extending Indian payment solutions to global markets while assisting merchants in reaching Indian consumers.
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