The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has announced several new support measures for the financial technology sector. These initiatives include the launch of an innovation hub, the creation of a specialized venture fund, the start of a training program for 5,000 specialists, and research into the central bank digital currency (CBDC).
This was reported by the Chairman of the Central Bank, Timur Ishmetov, during the Silk Road Finance and Technology Forum in Tashkent. These measures are part of Uzbekistan's national strategy to develop fintech for the period from 2026 to 2030.
The goal of this strategy is to promote innovation, improve financial infrastructure, ensure access to capital and talent, and position Uzbekistan as a fintech center for Central Asia.
Innovation Hub and Venture Financing
A key element of the strategy is the Central Bank's new innovation hub. The first group of resident startups is planned to join the hub in the fourth quarter of 2026. The hub will support fintech projects at all stages: from incubation and acceleration to regulatory consulting, solution testing, and market entry preparation.
Parallel to the hub's launch, the Central Bank has established a specialized venture fund. Negotiations are currently underway with international fund managers to create a structure that allows promising projects to reach an international level.
Furthermore, the regulator is focused on strengthening the operational resilience of the entire financial system, expanding open banking, and improving payment infrastructure. Ishmetov noted that the basic regulatory framework, management system, and technical architecture for these endeavors have already been developed.
Talent Development and CBDC
To address workforce development, the Central Bank is initiating the training of 5,000 students in financial technologies by 2030. The first group of students will begin their studies before the end of 2026. This program is created in cooperation with universities in Singapore and the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN), and the curriculum will combine academic study with practical technical training.
In addition, the Central Bank is studying the possibility of implementing a central bank digital currency. A special analytical note is planned for publication during the forum. This document will examine potential application scenarios, architectural solutions, main trade-offs, and systemic impact, which will serve as the basis for the experimental testing phase in Uzbekistan.