Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The III International FINNEXT Asia 2026 forum will be held on 19 November at Hyatt Regency Tashkent. Participants will discuss prospects for the development of Central Asia’s financial and insurance markets, digital transformation in the sector and key priorities for 2026–2027.
The forum will bring together executives and experts from banks, payment and insurance companies, fintech firms, telecommunications and technology sectors from Uzbekistan, Russia, Central Asian countries, Europe and other regions.
The business programme will cover financial market regulation, the use of artificial intelligence and Big Data, Open Banking, digital identification, digital assets, investment and financial ecosystems.
A separate insurance track, INSUR Asia, will focus on technologies transforming the insurance industry.
Executives from insurance companies and technology experts will examine infrastructure digitalization, automation of underwriting and claims settlement, modern approaches to risk management and new channels for customer engagement.
One of the forum’s central topics will be the practical implementation of Resolution No. 359-PP. At the plenary session “Uzbekistan’s Fintech Reality: From Strategy to Results,” participants will discuss its impact on banks, investors and fintech companies, as well as the transformation of banks into technology platforms and conditions for attracting capital to the region.
The session “Artificial Intelligence and Big Data: From Pilot to P&L Line” will focus on the use of machine learning in scoring and fraud prevention, as well as large language models in customer service.
The session “Open Banking and Next-Generation Digital Identity: A Deadline That Changes the Market” will examine the readiness of banking infrastructure for new regulatory requirements, the introduction of eKYC and biometrics, and the development of open APIs and Open Banking.
A separate discussion, “Tokenization and the Digital Soum: The First Year in Figures,” will address the development of Uzbekistan’s tokenized securities market, initiatives involving the digital soum and stablecoins, and regulatory experiments.
The session “Money for Growth: Venture Capital, M&A and the Region’s First IPO” will examine the development of venture financing, M&A transactions, factoring as a tool to support small businesses and prospects for companies from the region to enter international stock exchanges.
The business programme will conclude with the foresight panel “Central Asia — 2027: Bets on the Table,” focusing on possible scenarios for the development of the region’s financial market.
Among the announced speakers are Microcreditbank Deputy Chairman of the Management Board Sodir Melibayev, UZUM Bank Chairman of the Management Board Svetlana Khe, Octobank Deputy Chairman of the Management Board for IT and Digital Transformation Roman Tretyakov, Ipoteka Bank (OTP Group) Deputy Chairman of the Management Board and Head of the Information Technology Division Dmitry Volchek, SQB Bank Adviser to the Chairman of the Management Board and Chief AI Officer Sergei Kozlov, IT Park Uzbekistan Head of IT Outsourcing and Shared Services Department Azamat Rakhmon-Zoda, and Central Asian Fintech Association Chairman Otabek Nasirov.
The programme will also feature Gazprombank First Vice President and Head of the AI Technology Division Adel Valiullin, VEB.RF Chairman of the Board and Executive Director Dmitry Aksakov, and AICA Executive Director Bekhzod Ismoilov.
The insurance track will feature Hayot Invest Insurance CEO Umid Khudoyberdiyev, BIMA Insurance (Tajikistan) co-founder Vladimir Khursan, PARI Insurance Company CEO Nikolai Kudryakov, Everia Life CEO Evgeny Shcheklanov and other experts.
The forum will also host the “Startup Centre: New Wave” competition. Fintech startups and technology teams will be able to present their projects to representatives of Central Asia’s financial industry and seek partners for pilot implementation and scaling of their solutions. Applications will be accepted until 20 October.
FINNEXT Asia aims to promote the development of Uzbekistan’s financial sector, facilitate the exchange of technology and practical experience, and strengthen cooperation between regional and international market participants.
Registration for the forum is available on the official FINNEXT Asia website.
