The Bir ecosystem, the Caucasus’ first fully integrated banking,
payments and e-commerce ecosystem, today announces a strategic
partnership with UnionPay International, a subsidiary of China’s
UnionPay. The partnership significantly expands acceptance of
UnionPay cards across Azerbaijan, marking an important milestone in
strengthening the country's connectivity to the global payments
ecosystem.


Following the successful completion of the first phase of the
partnership, UnionPay cardholders can now make online purchases at
more than 1,000 merchants and withdraw cash at nearly 1,300 ATMs of
Birbank – the bank that’s part of the Bir ecosystem alongside
Birmarket e-commerce platform, Milliön payment terminals, and m10
e-wallet app.


In the coming months, Birbank will further expand UnionPay
acceptance across its point of sale (POS) acquiring network,
enabling cardholders to make seamless contactless and chip payments
at thousands of physical merchant locations throughout Azerbaijan.
Additionally, Birbank users will be able to transfer money to
UnionPay cards. Once the rollout is complete, Bir will support
UnionPay across all major acquiring channels – ATMs, e-commerce,
POS terminals and mobile POS devices – creating one of Azerbaijan’s
most comprehensive international acquiring infrastructures.


The partnership comes as Azerbaijan continues to strengthen its
role as a regional trade, tourism and business hub connecting
Europe and Asia. By expanding acceptance of one of the world's
leading payment networks, the Bir ecosystem is making it easier for
millions of international visitors carrying UnionPay cards to pay
seamlessly across the country while helping Azerbaijani merchants
reach a broader international customer base without requiring
additional integrations.


Jalal Orujov, Head of Payments at Bir,
commented:


"We are continuously investing in building a future-ready
payments infrastructure that connects Azerbaijan with the world's
leading payment ecosystems. Our partnership with China’s UnionPay
represents another important step in that strategy. By enabling
UnionPay acceptance across our acquiring network, we are making
Azerbaijan more accessible for international visitors while helping
local businesses serve customers from around the world with greater
convenience."


Wang Lixin, CEO of UnionPay International,
added:







"We are pleased to partner with Bir to further expand UnionPay's
acceptance network in Azerbaijan. This collaboration strengthens
payment connectivity between Azerbaijan and Asia and enables
UnionPay cardholders to enjoy a convenient, secure and seamless
payment experience whether withdrawing cash, shopping online or,
soon, making purchases at merchants across the country. We look
forward to working with the Bir ecosystem to support growing
cross-border travel, trade and commercial exchanges."


The partnership with UnionPay reflects the broader strategy of
the Bir ecosystem, serving more than 5 million people, to make
daily tasks like shopping and banking simpler and more convenient.
By shaping new consumer habits for millions of people in
Azerbaijan, Bir is fueling the development of the country’s digital
economy.


About Bir


Bir is the first fully integrated banking, payments and
e-commerce ecosystem of the Caucasus, redefining how people and
businesses interact with daily services in Azerbaijan. Launched in
2025 to unite the country’s leading brands, including Birbank,
Birmarket e-commerce platform, Milliön payment terminals, and m10
e-wallet app, the Bir ecosystem reaches over 5 million users.
Through its extensive ecosystem and strategic partnerships with
Trendyol marketplace and BakıKart transportation payment solution,
Bir is building the foundation for Azerbaijan’s first and largest
digital ecosystem for consumers and businesses.


For more information, visit: bir.az