Cuba begins “technological rollout” for use of Mir cards

Cuban Tourism Minister Juan Carlos García Granda provided an update on the use of Russian MIR cards on the island.

As reported on social media s“This Saturday, Cuba began the technological deployment of the use of Russian Mir cards in the country’s tourist facilities in this capital and other centers in the Caribbean country.”

He also announced that “it is planned to close this year 2023, with the service being implemented in most facilities in the tourism sector, store chains and service centers throughout Cuba.”

Previously, the Vice President of the Cuban Currency Exchange (Cadeca), Alejandro Velasco, specified that the magnetic cards of the Russian MIR system are mainly intended for tourism from that country.

Using Russian cards, it is possible to withdraw cash in Cuban pesos from ATMs in the country.

Russia created the national payments system Mir in 2014, after initially facing a wave of sanctions in connection with the addition of Crimea.

To date, MIR cards, launched in 2015, are accepted in countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, Turkey, Vietnam, South Korea, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

In Cuba, Visa, Mastercard, Union Pay, Ocean Card, CABAL and American International Service (AIS) debit or credit cards also work.). No card issued by institutions in the United States operates normally in Cuba.

The official tourism website on the island indicates that “since March 13,Cuban banks accept Mir cardbroadcast in Russiawhich makes it possible to withdraw cash by converting the ruble into the Cuban peso, which favors transactions carried out by tourists or businessmen from the Eurasian country on the island.

Currencies quoted by CADECA According to Cubatravel, these currencies are the Canadian dollar, British pound, Swiss franc, Japanese yen, Mexican peso, euro, and US dollar.