The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has announced a large-scale fintech sector development plan until 2030. The regulator is launching an innovation hub, a specialized venture fund, and a program to train 5,000 specialists. This was stated by CB Chairman Timur Ishmetov at the Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum in Tashkent.
The fintech hub plans to welcome its first participants in the fourth quarter of 2026. Projects will be able to receive support at various stages – from incubation and acceleration to regulatory consultations, technology testing, and product preparation for market launch.
In parallel, the CB has established a specialized venture fund and is negotiating with international asset management companies. It is expected that promising projects will be able to progress from the hub to international scaling.
Another priority will be the development of payment infrastructure and open banking. The regulator also intends to strengthen the operational stability of the financial system.
A separate program is designed to train 5,000 students in financial technologies by 2030. The first participants are expected to begin training by the end of 2026. The program was developed jointly with universities in Singapore and the Global Finance & Technology Network.
In addition, the Central Bank will explore the prospects of launching a digital currency. The regulator intends to present a "white paper" on CBDC with architectural options, use cases, and an assessment of the possible impact on the financial system. The results obtained should determine the approach to the future experimental launch of a digital currency in Uzbekistan.