Cross-border platform NEWS

I. Regulation & Policy: The Era of "Standardization"

• Kazakhstan — Mandatory VAT Registration for Foreign E-commerce:

  • Implementation: Starting January 1, 2025, with full enforcement by 2026, all foreign online trading platforms operating in Kazakhstan must register for Value Added Tax (VAT).

  • Enforcement: Platforms must apply for registration within one month of receiving their first payment from a Kazakhstani buyer. The State Revenue Committee has the authority to block the websites and restrict bank operations of non-compliant platforms.

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• Uzbekistan — Easing Data Localization Laws to Attract International Payments:

  • Legal Amendment: In February 2026, the Senate of Uzbekistan approved amendments to the "Law on Personal Data." Previously, strict data localization requirements hindered the full operations of PayPal, Google Pay, and Alipay.

  • Impact: The new law allows non-sensitive data to be stored on foreign servers, paving the way for international payment giants to fully integrate into the Uzbek market, benefiting millions of freelancers and cross-border sellers.

II. Payment Innovation: From "Cash-on-Delivery" to "Instant Digital"

• Kazakhstan — Unified QR Codes and Cross-Border Transfers:

  • Unified QR System: The National Payment Corporation of Kazakhstan has completed the rollout of a unified QR payment system. This breaks the "walled gardens" of individual banks (like Kaspi.kz), allowing consumers to scan any merchant QR code using any bank app.

  • Transfers to China: Since 2025, Kazakhstani users have been able to perform two-way cross-border transfers between local apps (such as Aitu) and China's Alipay and WeChat Pay, significantly simplifying procurement and tourism.

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• Uzbekistan — National Payment Switch and Instant Transfers:

  • Central Bank Initiative: The Central Bank of Uzbekistan completed its "National Payment Switch" in early 2026. All local currency (Soum) transactions must now pass through a single national gateway.

  • 24/7 Transfers: As of February 2026, residents can perform real-time, 24/7 transfers between different banks using only a mobile phone number, bringing the financial infrastructure on par with regional leaders.

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III. E-commerce Market: Local Ecosystems vs. Global Giants

• The Rise of Uzbekistan’s "Uzum":

  • Uzum Market, the country's first unicorn, dominates the local landscape. Its "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) service has achieved over 60% penetration for online orders. The ecosystem now fully integrates e-commerce, express delivery, and banking (Uzum Bank).

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• Kazakhstan’s Kaspi.kz Goes Global:

  • The Kazakhstani giant Kaspi.kz has transitioned from a local player to an international investor. Following its majority stake acquisition of the Turkish e-commerce platform Hepsiburada in late 2025, Kaspi is now exporting its "Super App" model across Central Asia and the Middle East.

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• Chinese Platforms (Temu/AliExpress):

  • While Temu faced brief regulatory hurdles in Uzbekistan regarding low-price competition in 2025, it has since pivoted toward building local fulfillment centers. The competition between Temu, Russia’s Wildberries, and local players has shifted from "price wars" to "delivery speed" and "financial credit support."

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IV. Regional Cooperation: The "Economic Corridor"

• Bilateral Trade Targets: During the High-Level Council meetings at the end of 2025, the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan confirmed that bilateral trade had surpassed $4 billion. They aim to reach $10 billion by 2030 through the joint venture "UzKazTrade."

• Paperless Trade: Uzbekistan officially joined the UN Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in 2025. This means that e-commerce export customs processes between Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and China are becoming fully digital, reducing clearance times by 30% to 50%.

Summary & Strategic Advice

1. For Sellers: Kazakhstan is now a highly regulated market regarding taxes (VAT). Compliance is no longer optional but a prerequisite for market access.

2. For FinTech: Uzbekistan is currently in a "Policy Dividend" phase. With the relaxation of data laws and the new national payment switch, the market is primed for an explosion in international payment tools.

3. For Logistics: The core competitive advantage in Central Asian e-commerce has shifted from "sourcing products" to "last-mile delivery" and "integrated consumer financing" (BNPL).