Tashkent to host first Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum as Uzbekistan pursues $1 billion investment goal

Designed as Uzbekistan's premier convening platform for finance, innovation, and policy, the forum aims to bring together global leaders and decision-makers while cementing the country's position as a leading financial technology hub in Central Asia.

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has been tasked with implementing several measures aimed at developing the country's financial technology sector. Under a presidential decree outlining targets through 2030, Uzbekistan plans to attract $1 billion in foreign direct investment, train more than 5,000 specialists, license over 200 market participants, support 100 startup graduates from incubation programs, and test digital currencies and stablecoins. The strategy comes as the country seeks to leverage its population of more than 38 million people and growing adoption of digital services.

FinTech remains central to this regional strategy. Central Asia represents a market of more than 80 million digitally savvy individuals, standing out as one of the few large, young, and digitally connected regions still in the early stages of its growth curve. To capitalize on this potential, the CBU is developing a globally accessible Regulatory Sandbox 2.0, the QFinex Quantum Test Bed, and a dedicated $50 million venture capital fund. Additionally, the regulator is establishing forward-looking legal frameworks covering digital payments, open banking, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services, and cyber resilience – an institutional approach that mirrors the regulator-led strategy that propelled Singapore to become the world's third-largest FinTech hub.

The theme of the inaugural forum is Al-Jabr, the Arabic concept meaning "bringing parts together," which gave rise to modern algebra. The title honors Al-Khwarizmi, the legendary ninth-century mathematician born in Khwarezm in present-day Uzbekistan.

The three-day forum will center on five core thematic pillars: open banking, digital assets and stablecoins, cross-border payments, Islamic finance, and innovation and investment. Co-hosted by global digital payments giant Ant International, the event formally links Tashkent to GFTN’s prestigious international circuit. This network includes the world-renowned Singapore FinTech Festival, the Point Zero Forum in Zurich, the GFTN Forum Japan, and the Black Swan Summits. The Tashkent convening will bring together heads of state, central bank governors, multilateral development institutions, venture capitalists, and technology founders from across Central Asia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, and beyond.

“Innovation flourishes when trust, talent and capital converge," said Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO of GFTN, stressing the significance of the partnership. "Uzbekistan has demonstrated a clear commitment to building these foundations, and the Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum provides a timely platform to connect global expertise with regional ambitions. We look forward to supporting the emergence of Central Asia as a vibrant hub for financial innovation.”

The forum aims to serve as a platform linking policymakers, regulators, investors, and entrepreneurs across Central Asia to deepen financial and investment cooperation.