Tashkent Hosts Seminar on Regional Connectivity and Investment

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Tashkent hosted a high-level seminar as part of the regular meeting of the Swiss Constituency of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The event focused on strengthening regional cooperation, attracting private sector investment, and developing open trade.

The keynote speakers at the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan and Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov, and World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Antonella Bassani. The discussion, moderated by World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia Asad Alam, brought together high-ranking foreign delegates.

The panel session included the Prime Minister of Liechtenstein Brigitte Haas, State Secretary for International Finance of Switzerland Pietro Lazzeri, Minister of Finance of Tajikistan Faiziddin Qahhorzoda, Deputy State Secretary of Poland Jurand Drop, and International Finance Corporation Director for Türkiye, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan Lisa Kaestner.

Experts agreed that in current realities, deep regional interaction serves as the foundation for sustainable economic growth and the diversification of transport and logistics corridors. The participants focused primarily on the development of digital infrastructure, cross-border trade routes, and the energy sector.

The seminar specifically noted the consistent steps taken by Uzbekistan toward accession to the World Trade Organization. It was emphasized that this process contributes to the integration of the republic into the global trading system, the harmonization of national legislation with international standards, and the creation of transparent conditions for foreign investors.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties discussed in detail the mechanisms of public-private partnerships, blended finance, and the optimization of customs procedures to reduce business costs. The key role of the World Bank Group and the IMF in supporting these initiatives was emphasized.

Following the debates, the delegates stated the need to formulate practical recommendations to help stimulate the inflow of private capital into priority infrastructure projects and increase the overall well-being of the region's population.