Myanmar is expected to start accepting Russian “Mir” cards soon, despite US sanctions and the refusal of other countries to use them. Many states are also still considering supporting the Russian payment system.
According to the Central Bank, as of the end of 2023, more than 287 million “Mir” cards had been issued in Russia and were used for various payments. However, after sanctions were imposed against the National Payment Card System (NSPK), several countries stopped servicing Russian cards, including Armenia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.
At the same time, the Russian payment system is actively used in Asian countries. American sanctions, in turn, will affect interaction with foreign partners, but businesses will find ways to bypass restrictions.
Some banks in countries that have stopped using “Mir” cards still accept them. “Mir” cards can be used without restrictions only in Belarus, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia for now.
The Russian payment system is present in six more countries: Kazakhstan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Cuba. However, not all ATMs accept our cards.
Six more countries have announced plans to introduce “Mir” cards in the near future: Mauritius, Egypt, India, Mongolia, Iran, and Indonesia.
Also, some states are ready to discuss the launch of the Russian payment system, including China, the UAE, Azerbaijan, Thailand, and others.
Photo: Payment system “Mir” / “VKontakte”