The first Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum will take place in Uzbekistan

The Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Global Finance & Technology Network — a non-profit organization established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore — have announced the first Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum. The forum will take place in Tashkent from August 24 to 26, 2026, at the venues of the Central Asian Expo Uzbekistan International Exhibition Center and the Center of Islamic Civilization.

Under the leadership of the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the country has developed one of the most dynamic FinTech ecosystems in the region. This is supported by a population of over 37 million people, a significant portion of whom are under thirty years old, a digitalization rate approaching 70%, and a rapidly growing ecosystem of companies. The achieved progress is enshrined in a presidential decree outlining strategic development goals for the industry through 2030. Among the key targets are attracting $1 billion in foreign investment, training over 5,000 specialists, licensing more than 200 market participants, launching over 100 startups from incubation programs, and implementing pilot projects in the field of digital currencies and stablecoins.

FinTech plays a central role in this strategy, as Central Asia — a market with over 80 million active users — remains one of the few large, young, and digitally native regions in the world with significant potential for further growth. To realize these opportunities, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan is creating an accessible platform for international participants, including the Regulatory Sandbox 2.0, the QFinex Quantum Test Bed, a specialized venture fund with a volume of $50 million, and is developing regulatory frameworks in the areas of payment services, open banking, BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) services, and cyber resilience. This approach largely reflects Singapore’s experience, where the active role of the regulator helped establish the country as the world’s third-largest FinTech hub.

The concept of the forum is based on the term “Al-Jabr” — an Arabic word meaning the joining of parts into a whole, which gave the world the name of the science of algebra. Thus, the forum pays tribute to Al-Khwarizmi, a 9th-century mathematician from Khorezm, in the territory of modern-day Uzbekistan.
Sopnendu Mohanty, CEO of GFTN

Innovation thrives where trust, talent, and capital converge. Uzbekistan demonstrates a consistent commitment to building these foundations, and the Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum provides a timely platform for bringing together international expertise and regional ambitions. We are pleased to support the emergence of Central Asia as a dynamic center for financial innovation.

The Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum is an annual flagship FinTech forum of Uzbekistan, organized by the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan in collaboration with Global Finance & Technology Network. The forum serves as a platform for dialogue between government officials, regulators, investors, and founders of technology companies, fostering international cooperation and strengthening the role of Central Asia as a new financial and innovation hub.

More details on the website: silkroadfinancetechnologyforum.com