Uzbekistan Turns 120 Investor Ideas Into Reform Plan

Uzbekistan is doing something rare in government: actually turning investor feedback into action.

Following this year's Tashkent International Investment Forum, the country is building an official reform roadmap from 120 recommendations submitted by international investors. The proposals cover banking, energy, artificial intelligence, capital markets, and corporate governance.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will personally receive progress reports on implementing these changes. Officials say investor input has already shaped tax laws, financial regulations, and reporting requirements for international companies.

The Foreign Investors Council, which gathered these proposals, has grown from 54 to 85 member companies in just one year. These businesses now operate across 23 sectors of Uzbekistan's economy.

Major development banks are backing the transformation. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has made Uzbekistan its largest Central Asian partner, with a portfolio worth over $7 billion.

New agreements signed during the forum will support sustainable transport, railway digitalization, housing finance, and startup development. The New Development Bank also expressed interest in funding environmentally focused projects and regional transport corridors.

The Ripple Effect

This approach shows how emerging economies can accelerate growth by making investors true partners in policy development. When companies see their concerns addressed in real legislation, confidence grows.

The Foreign Investors Council now includes representatives from the EBRD, Asian Development Bank, and International Finance Corporation. Their collective voice is helping Uzbekistan align its investment framework with international standards, including joining the OECD Declaration on International Investment.

Legal certainty remains a priority for investors, who want stable regulations and independent courts. Plans for a Tashkent International Financial Centre aim to address these concerns while attracting more capital.

Julia Hoggett, CEO of the London Stock Exchange, noted that international investors are paying growing attention to Central Asia's long-term potential. The key, she said, is confidence that invested capital will be protected and accessible.

The forum's discussions on artificial intelligence highlighted another future focus. Investors emphasized that countries must build not just technology adoption but the data infrastructure to support AI-driven growth.

What started as a three-day investment forum is becoming a blueprint for how governments and global investors can build economies together.