Own software for servicing Russian Mir cards will be developed in Kyrgyzstan. Minister of Economy Daniyar Amangeldiev told journalists in Yekaterinburg.
He noted that Kyrgyzstan is taking measures to resume servicing of Mir cards.
According to him, the problem is that Mir cards were linked to Elcard system, which is based on Western software. Therefore, Kyrgyzstan had to refuse to service Russian cards.
«This issue is on the agenda, we are looking for new ways, new software. Our Interbank Processing Center (IPC) is developing its own (software) product. I think that as soon as we finish this process, the IPC will certainly resume its work,» he said.
In the spring 2024, banks in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan suspended servicing of Mir cards after the National Payment Card System came under blocking U.S. sanctions in February. In April, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov said it was a temporary measure. According to him, Bishkek received a letter from a Latvian company that deals with software and maintenance of the republic’s interbank processing center (IPC). It said that the company would disconnect the IPC, if the Mir cards continued to work in Kyrgyzstan.
At the beginning of June, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexander Pankin said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that Russia was working on the issue of resuming the operation of Mir cards in Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.
