More than 6,000 participants from 74 countries have gathered in Tashkent for the Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum, convened by Uzbekistan’s Central Bank and GFTN. The event showcases the country’s reform momentum and its ambition to become a gateway for capital, technology and financial connectivity across Central Asia.

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On 24 August 2026, Uzbekistan put its financial reform agenda before a global audience, as more than 6,000 participants from 74 countries convened in Tashkent to advance the country’s ambitions as a gateway for capital, technology and financial connectivity across Central Asia.

The Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum 2026, convened by the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Singapore-headquartered Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), and co-hosted by Ant International, brings together almost 200 speakers and more than 25 investors representing US$4 billion in assets under management.

The Forum connects global and regional policymakers, regulators, investors and founders to shape Central Asia’s next financial corridor across five strategic themes: digital payments and infrastructure, Islamic finance and new corridors, AI and emerging technology, tokenisation and digital assets, and cross-border finance and regulation.

Held at CAEx on 24–25 August, the Forum moves to the Islamic Civilisation Centre on 26 August for The Azimuth, a dedicated programme on Islamic finance and entrepreneurship.

Opening the Forum, H.E. Jamshid Kuchkarov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, and H.E. Timur Ishmetov, Governor, Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan, set out the next phase of the country’s financial transformation: turning reform into investable markets, attracting long-term capital, opening new channels to Islamic finance and building interoperable cross-border financial infrastructure. The Forum also addresses the governance and resilience needed to scale AI, tokenisation and digital assets.

Uzbekistan’s Reform Push Opens the Door to Global Capital

In his opening address, The Silk Road Initiative: Turning a Socio-Economic Heritage into Central Asia’s Financial Innovation Corridor, H.E. Timur Ishmetov, Governor, Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan issued a direct invitation to global investors and innovators.

H.E. Timur Ishmetov said: “Uzbekistan is open to investment, technology, expertise and long-term partnership. Build here. Test new solutions here. Invest here. Develop talent here. With the right partnerships, Central Asia can become a more connected, competitive and internationally integrated financial region.”

Uzbekistan enters the Forum with strong reform and economic momentum. GDP grew 8.5% in the first half of 2026, foreign investment reached US$8.3 billion in the first quarter, and Moody’s upgraded the sovereign rating to Ba2 in June. Presidential Decree PQ-359 and the National FinTech Strategy are advancing open banking, digital payments and innovation, with a target of US$1 billion in fintech investment by 2030. Digital-payment adoption has already risen from 39% in 2021 to 71% in 2025. The next test is converting that momentum into deeper markets, institutional capital, and sustained international investment.

“Uzbekistan has the ingredients to become Central Asia’s digital finance gateway: strong political commitment, bold regulatory reform, growing digital adoption and a clear ambition to attract global capital. The next step is to turn those foundations into investment, international partnerships and financial corridors that connect Central Asia to the world. That is what the Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum is designed to accelerate,” said Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO, Global Finance & Technology Network.

New Financial Rails Drive Central Asia’s Regional and Global Connectivity

The Forum focuses on the priorities shaping Central Asia’s next phase of financial development:

• Turning reform into investable markets by translating regulatory momentum into sustained domestic and international capital.

• Positioning Islamic finance as a growth corridor connecting Central Asia with the Gulf, Türkiye, South Asia and Southeast Asia.

• Building next-generation financial infrastructure through interoperable payments, digital identity, open APIs, tokenisation and digital money.

• Connecting payments across borders to lower the cost and friction of remittances and settlement.

• Converting investor interest into long-term capital through stronger governance, liquidity, market depth and exit pathways.

New Islamic Banking Law Opens Uzbekistan to US$6 Trillion Global Islamic Finance Market

Uzbekistan’s new Islamic banking law, effective from June 2026, creates the country’s first legal framework for Shariah-compliant banking and opens a potential new channel to global Islamic capital. With Islamic finance assets approaching US$6 trillion globally, Uzbekistan has an opportunity to connect Central Asia with markets across the Gulf, Türkiye, South Asia and Southeast Asia. The Forum culminates on 26 August with The Azimuth, focused on the standards, Shariah governance, liquidity, digital infrastructure and cross-border capital needed to scale Islamic finance.

Faster, Cheaper Cross-Border Payments and Settlement to Connect the Region with Global Markets

Central Asia’s relatively young financial infrastructure creates an opportunity to build interoperable financial rails rather than replicate legacy systems. For Uzbekistan and its neighbours, the next frontier is cross-border connectivity: lower remittance costs, faster settlement and infrastructure that connects national financial systems. Realising the wider ambition of a financial Silk Road will require more than technology. Predictable regulation, deeper markets, institutional capital, cybersecurity and trusted governance will determine whether new financial infrastructure can scale across borders.

Tech Revolt is on the ground in Tashkent. Follow our coverage of the Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum through 26 August. More on the programme at the official forum site.

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