Wedoany.com Report-Aug. 15, Alipay+, Ant International’s global wallet gateway, and Kaspi.kz, Kazakhstan’s leading super app, have launched international cross-border QR payment acceptance in Kazakhstan. This development allows users of 12 Alipay+-enabled payment apps to scan and pay via Kaspi QR, which offers the country’s largest merchant coverage. The network spans shopping, food and beverage outlets, tourist attractions, convenience stores, medical services, and retailers in smaller towns and villages.

Kazakhstan is now the first country in Central Asia to accept Alipay+, enabling local merchants to expand payment options for international visitors. This initiative supports the country’s tourism sector, which welcomed a record 7.5 million international visitors in the first half of 2025. Travellers from China, Germany, and South Korea are among the top five sources of arrivals, and they can now complete transactions in Kazakhstan using their Alipay+-enabled applications.

This move builds on the existing collaboration between Alipay+ and Kaspi.kz, which began in April 2024 to facilitate outbound cross-border mobile payments. Popular destinations for Kazakhstani travellers using Kaspi.kz include China, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, Italy, and France. The extension of the partnership to inbound tourism further integrates Kazakhstan into the global mobile payment network.

Alipay+ connects 1.7 billion user accounts from 36 international payment partners to over 100 million merchants in 70 markets worldwide. By linking its global merchant network to Kaspi.kz’s domestic reach, the partnership enhances convenience for both travellers and businesses.

Edward Yue, General Manager for SEA, South Asia, and ANZ at Ant International, stated: “We’re very excited to be strengthening our partnership with Kaspi.kz for both inbound and outbound cross-border mobile payments that benefits Kazakhstani travellers and businesses. We have seen great momentum in Kazakhstanis using their Kaspi.kz app across our global Alipay+ merchants, and now we’re building on the rich local ecosystem offered via Kaspi QR to connect our global partners to local businesses. As more people seek culturally rich and unique destinations, we will continue to work closely to promote vibrant and sustainable growth in Kazakhstan and the region.”

Mikhail Lomtadze, CEO and Co-founder of Kaspi.kz, said: “Since last year, in partnership with Alipay+, Kazakhstanis began to pay in some of their favourite travel destinations using the Kaspi.kz super app. Now, we’re taking our partnership one step further. Guests visiting Kazakhstan can now pay via Kaspi QR using their Alipay+ enabled e-wallets or bank apps. We thank Alipay+ for the opportunity to work together to make travel to Kazakhstan more convenient, and jointly promote growth.”

The initiative reflects the increasing demand for digital payment solutions in both domestic and international travel, while strengthening Kazakhstan’s position as a destination equipped with modern payment infrastructure.