BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 24. Cybersecurity,
lack of financial literacy, and infrastructure limitations are key
challenges in integrating Uzbekistan’s payment infrastructure into
the global ecosystem, Denis Filippov, General Manager of
Mastercard, told Trend.
“The constant growth in the volume of digital transactions and
the steady rise in cybercrime require the implementation of the
most advanced protection systems. Our cybersecurity and
identification systems monitor around 32 million incidents daily,
related to various risks. The operation of these systems is largely
based on artificial intelligence,” said Denis Filippov.
“Mastercard is committed to creating a safe and inclusive
digital future by using cutting-edge technologies and services that
ensure the cybersecurity of banks as well as financial and
non-financial organizations,” he added.
He also emphasized the importance of improving financial
literacy: “Many users, especially in the regions, still do not
fully understand the benefits and mechanisms of digital payments,
which limits their active use of new services.”
Regarding infrastructure challenges, Denis Filippov pointed out:
“In rural areas of Uzbekistan, there is still a lack of stable
internet connection and a limited number of POS terminals, which
complicates the adoption of digital payments.”
To address these issues, Mastercard actively collaborates with
regulators, banks, and fintech companies to develop digital
infrastructure and implement modern payment security technologies
and standards.
“For example, at the beginning of 2025, a project to digitalize
small businesses was launched in Uzbekistan, under which 12,000
small enterprises received free access to software for accepting
payments via smartphones. This has become a significant support for
self-employed individuals and small businesses, especially in
remote rural areas with low internet coverage,” he added.
“This project is being implemented as part of Mastercard’s
global Strive initiative, which supports over 10 million small
businesses worldwide by providing them access to capital, markets,
and digital solutions,” he noted.
