Uzbekistan and the World Bank held discussions on measures aimed at accelerating economic growth, increasing employment, and attracting private investment.
The central issues of the meeting were economic development challenges. The negotiations involved Jamshid Kuchkarov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, and Antonella Bassani, Vice President of the World Bank for Europe and Central Asia.
According to the Information Service and Communications Department of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, the talks took place on October 15, 2026, in Bangkok, coinciding with the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Sajjad Shah, World Bank Director for Strategy and Operations, Charles Cormier, Regional Director for Infrastructure, Nodirbek Ochilov, Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, Jasur Karshibayev, Advisor to the Minister of Economy and Finance, and other representatives also participated in the negotiations.
The parties reviewed current economic and financial trends in Uzbekistan, as well as ongoing reforms and priorities for future cooperation. Special attention was paid to the New Growth Program for Employment, which aims to stimulate economic development and improve public welfare.
Ways to increase labor productivity, develop human capital and professional skills, expand the export of high value-added products, and encourage private investment were discussed. Furthermore, the focus was directed towards supporting small and medium-sized businesses, including women-owned enterprises and youth-created startups.
Participants also spoke about pension system reform, including improvements in pension fund management and the development of a legal framework for private and corporate pension funds. At the conclusion of the meetings, the parties agreed to continue cooperation in the discussed areas. The Ministry did not specify any new projects, funding amounts, or implementation timelines.