Azernews.Az

International payment system VISA stresses positive trends in the Azerbaijani plastic card market, the company's general manager for CIS and South East Europe, Jean-Marc Tonti, told Trend news agency in Baku.

"One of the main obstacles to the development of this market in Azerbaijan is the lack of development of the card network," he said. "Two or three years ago, the network was ineffective in Azerbaijan. Most shops did not accept credit cards. This situation, especially in [the capital] Baku, has changed now. The main goal is to develop the network today."

Tonti said that another key objective is to change people's attitude toward non-cash transactions.

"The second problem is to change the mentality and increase awareness in this area," he said. "The Azerbaijani society is focused on cash, and only five percent of the purchase and sale transactions are conducted by non-cash payments. We need to educate people and to convince them that using plastic cards is safer and more convenient."

Tonti added that the Azerbaijani plastic card market does not differ much from the markets of the neighboring countries.

"This market is connected with debit cards, as in other CIS countries -- Russia, Kazakhstan, that is, mostly payroll and social cards," he said. "While the market is developing, new and more mature products -- credit cards, corporate cards for businessmen and premium cards for the rich people appear."