A new convenience in payments, the IMAN Invest controversy, and salary statistics - week digest

New convenience in payments, IMAN Invest scandal, and salary statistics — weekly digest

Apple Pay and Google Pay have finally started working: this simplifies not only terminal payments, but also online payments. The average monthly salary is 7 million, the median is 4 million soums: the salary median has been disclosed for the first time. The IMAN Invest scandal and the loophole in legislation: investor protection should not depend on someone's conscience. Import restrictions, and a bouquet of privileges for sugar factories: the government's secret decision will cost the consumer dearly.

Making payments gets even easier

A payment method that has long become a standard worldwide — making a payment by bringing a smartphone or smartwatch close to a terminal — is finally gaining popularity in Uzbekistan as well. Starting from October 27, the ability to link Uzbekistan cards to Google Pay and Apple Pay services was opened, and on the very same day, many compatriots used this convenience for the first time in their lives. For information, using this service does not require the smartphone or smartwatch to be connected to the internet.

In fact, the ability to pay using the NFC function on a smartphone appeared in Uzbekistan several years ago. The opportunity to use Google Pay and Apple Pay in Uzbekistan for holders of bank cards issued in developed countries appeared back in 2019, meaning the convenience we have only now been granted is not new for foreign tourists visiting our country. At the same time, in recent years, making payments via NFC on Android smartphones from Uzcard and Humo cards was also established, but iPhone owners remained deprived of this opportunity.

In March 2026, after amendments were made to the law "On Personal Data," the main obstacle to linking Uzbekistan cards to Google and Apple wallets was removed. Following that, technical preparations were completed at 8-9 banks, and starting October 27, it became possible to link Visa and Mastercard cards issued by them to Google Pay and Apple Pay. Gradually, other banks too, local...