The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, Jamshid Kuchkarov, held a meeting with representatives of the international investment company Franklin Templeton on October 13.
According to a message from the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, the parties discussed the transformation of state enterprises, the development of the capital market, and opportunities to expand cooperation with foreign investors.
Participants in the meeting included Manradj Sekhon, Director of Investments at Templeton Global Investments and CEO of Templeton Asset Management; Marius Dan, CEO for Central Asia at Templeton Global Investments; and Khurshed Mustafayev, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance overseeing the oil and gas sector.
One of the central issues was the transformation of companies in the portfolio of the National Investment Fund of Uzbekistan (UzNIF). Participants reviewed methods for improving corporate governance, increasing financial transparency, and strengthening the investment attractiveness of these enterprises.
Special attention was paid to preparing the shares of several companies for Initial Public Offering (IPO). Prospects for companies entering international capital markets, attracting institutional investors, and applying international experience in share placement preparation were discussed.
Furthermore, participants exchanged views on measures to improve the efficiency of investment processes and implement corporate practices compliant with international standards. These aspects were considered in the context of forming a long-term investment partnership.
After the negotiations concluded, representatives of Uzbekistan and Franklin Templeton expressed a desire to continue the dialogue, exploring further opportunities for cooperation in priority areas and discussing joint initiatives. This meeting served as a platform to discuss the development of Uzbekistan's capital market, the improvement of state enterprise performance, and the expansion of interaction with international investors.