The development of the payment cards market in the Republic of Tajikistan is one of the key factors in solving the problem of non-cash payments developmentin order to decrease the volume of cash in circulation.To solve this problem, the National Bank of Tajikistan, together with credit financial organizations, is taking the necessary measures to expand the use of bank payment cards in retail and their acceptance for paymentof goods and services.

Currentlycredit financial organizations of the Republic of Tajikistan issuecards of the National payment system “Kortimilli”, International Payment Systems Visa and Mastercard, co-badgedcards of payment systems UnionPay and NPS “Kortimilli”, credit financial institutions’ local payment cards.

Share of payment cards issued by payment systems

in the Republic of Tajikistan

According to statistics, as of October 01, 2020, the total number of payment cards issued by credit financial organizations were 2 931 thousand, which is 28,3% more compared to October 01, 2019. Out of these, 58,2% are payment cards of the National Payment System “Kortimilli”, 14,4% are payment cards (City card), 8,4% Road card “CityCard-Kortimilli, 8,4% are local payment cards of credit financial organizations, 6,2% are cards of international payment systems (Visa, MasterCard and Union Pay) and 4,4% - are co-badged cards (Union Pay- NPS “Kortimilli”).

Share of payment cards by regions of the Republic of Tajikistan

Structure of payment cards issuance

Share of payment cards, issued by credit institutions

of the Republic of Tajikistan

Majority of payment cards in circulation are payment cards issued bySSB of RT “Amonatbank”. Their share in total amount makes 51%.

Number and volume of transactions with the use of payment cards

During the nine months of 2020, 49 311 thousand transactions were conducted by card holders in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan and abroad amounting in total 14 983 million somoni, compared to the same period of 2019, the number of operations increased by 29,4% and the volume of payments increased by 69,6%.

The volume of non-cash operations for goods and services at merchants in the nine months of 2020 has made 6,3%-from the total amount of transactions.

Dynamics of development of infrastructure on acquiring

of payment cards (unit)

The infrastructure for servicing cardholders is in a process of rapid growth. As of October 01, 2020, the number of devices (electronic terminals) used for non-cash transactions at merchants for paying the goods and services compared to the same period for the last year increased by 8,4% and amounted 3 705units. On the part of credit financial organizations, 4 602 pieces of QR codes were installed in trade and service enterprises, which is 2.8 times more than this period last year.

Infrastructure on acquiring of payment cards in

regions of the Republic of Tajikistan

In accordance with article 14 of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan «On Payment Services and the Payment System» and article 18 of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan «On Licensing Certain Types of Activities», the National bank of Tajikistan licenses the activities of the Payment System Operators, including Remittance System Operators.

The National Bank of Tajikistan supervisespayment system of the country and holds a number of actions for maintenance of effective and continuous operationof payment system of the Republic of Tajikistan. With a view of further development and improvement of payment system of the Republic of Tajikistan, the National Bank of Tajikistan co-operates with interested parties and payment services providers with a view of creation of conditions for introduction of innovative decisions in retail paymentsystem, introduction and development of technologies of mobile payments.