8B, a fintech infrastructure company focused on Central Asia, has teamed up with PayU to incorporate Indian payment systems, including the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), into its merchant network that spans Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and surrounding markets.
This integration enables Indian users to pay merchants in these countries using familiar methods like UPI, net banking, and cards, without the need for extra onboarding or altering their payment habits.
Transactions are managed via the existing merchant infrastructure, with UPI being added as an additional payment option.
For merchants, this means they can accept payments directly from Indian tourists using popular apps and platforms in India, potentially streamlining the checkout process and increasing transaction success rates.
Addressing the economic implications, Rohit Mahajan, Founder and CEO of Plutos ONE, stated, “Currently, Indian outbound tourism is a powerful economic contributor, with more than 30 million Indians projected to travel abroad by 2026, generating $20-25 billion in global tourism revenue. By facilitating familiar, real-time payment methods like UPI, Indian travellers can spend freely and confidently overseas, enhancing their experience and positively impacting tourism-related economies in host countries.”
This initiative coincides with the growing travel and economic interaction between India and Central Asia. India’s outbound tourism spending was recorded at $18.82 billion in 2024, with significant growth anticipated over the next ten years. At the same time, Central Asian nations have experienced robust tourism growth, with India becoming an important source market.
Kazakhstan, for example, has seen a marked increase in Indian visitors, aided by enhanced air connectivity and visa-free access. Uzbekistan has also reported double-digit growth in arrivals from India in 2025, illustrating the rising travel demand.
Industry professionals indicate that the absence of compatible payment systems has been a crucial gap in this expanding corridor.
Ravi Gosain, President of IATO, emphasized, “The PayU–8B alliance represents a significant advancement in facilitating easier international travel for Indian tourists by integrating UPI into Central Asia. By allowing Indian tourists to utilize familiar payment methods while traveling internationally, we provide a greater level of convenience and stimulate more travel between India and Central Asia.”
Beyond tourism, this integration is expected to promote wider trade between the regions. The bilateral trade between India and Kazakhstan reached $923.3 million in 2025, with cross-border consumer transactions playing a role. The capability to pay effortlessly could enable Indian consumers to buy goods and services from Central Asian businesses with greater ease.
According to 8B, this partnership bridges India’s digital payment ecosystem with Central Asia’s merchant networks, positioning payments as a facilitator of both travel and commerce between the areas.
PayU mentioned that this collaboration forms part of its wider international expansion strategy, intended to broaden the reach of Indian payment solutions to global markets while aiding merchants in connecting with Indian consumers.
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