Uzbekistan launches Silk Road finance forum in Tashkent

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan and the Global Finance & Technology Network have launched the Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum, an international platform for financial innovation in Central Asia.

The inaugural forum will be held over three days in Tashkent at the Central Asian Expo Uzbekistan and the Islamic Civilisation Centre. It will bring together policymakers, regulators, investors, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to discuss finance, technology and innovation in the region.

Uzbekistan is using the forum to reinforce its push to build a larger financial technology sector under the Central Bank's direction. The initiative is part of a wider national plan to expand foreign investment, train more specialists, increase the number of licensed market participants and support more start-ups.

The country's strategy also includes work on digital currencies and stable tokens. Officials have linked those efforts to broader reforms in payments, open banking, buy now, pay later services and cyber resilience.

This programme is being pursued in a market that organisers describe as young and increasingly digital. Uzbekistan has a population of more than 37 million, with a large proportion under 30, while digital adoption is nearing 70%.

Across Central Asia, the potential market is larger still. According to the announcement, the region has more than 80 million people. Officials and industry groups see it as an area where digital financial services are at an earlier stage of development than in more mature markets.

Regional push

As part of that effort, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan is developing Regulatory Sandbox 2.0 and the QFinex Quantum Test Bed. The plan also includes a USD 50 million venture fund to support financial technology businesses.

The launch of the forum also expands GFTN's international footprint. The Monetary Authority of Singapore established the Singapore-headquartered not-for-profit and already runs a network of finance and technology gatherings in other markets.

Its involvement links the Uzbekistan event to a broader cross-border policy and investment network. The Tashkent forum will sit alongside other GFTN-backed gatherings in Singapore, Zurich, Japan and the Black Swan Summits.

The three-day programme is framed around the concept of Al-Jabr, chosen to reflect the idea of bringing parts together. The reference also points to Al-Khwarizmi, the ninth-century mathematician from Khwarezm in present-day Uzbekistan.

Sessions are expected to focus on five areas: open banking, digital assets and stablecoins, cross-border payments, Islamic finance, and innovation and investment. The event is also being co-hosted with Ant International.

GFTN said the forum is intended to connect international expertise with Central Asian policy and business priorities. The organisation has positioned itself as a convener between governments, investors and technology companies in financial services.

In a statement, the group outlined its view of Uzbekistan's direction.

"Innovation flourishes when trust, talent and capital converge. 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," said Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO of GFTN.

GFTN was established in 2024 and has offices in Japan, Germany and India. The organisation works across policy advice, international forums and investment activity in financial technology.

For Uzbekistan, the forum marks another step in its efforts to position Tashkent as a centre for financial and technological discussions in the region. The Central Bank and its partners are seeking to attract regulators, development institutions, founders and investors from Central Asia, the Gulf and other markets.

The government's 2030 goals for the sector include USD 1 billion in foreign investment, more than 5,000 trained professionals, more than 200 licensed market participants and 100 start-ups graduating from incubation programmes.