Uzbekistan and United Kingdom to Expand Financial Cooperation

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov held talks with a British delegation led by the Minister of State for Investment, Lord Jason Stockwood.

The meeting, held on 18 June 2026, was dedicated to deepening bilateral investment, financial, and infrastructural cooperation.

The discussions were attended by Timothy Smart, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Uzbekistan, Tim Reid, Chief Executive Officer of UK Export Finance (UKEF), Julia Hoggett, CEO of the London Stock Exchange, and Saif Malik, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank.

The central theme of the dialogue was the development of capital markets and intensifying the partnership with the London Stock Exchange. The meeting participants reviewed in detail the mechanisms for bringing Uzbekistan into international financial markets, the specifics of placing sovereign and corporate securities, as well as further steps for the privatization of Uzbek state-owned enterprises and conducting IPOs.

Issues regarding integration into global financial systems and the issuance of sovereign bonds were also raised in the context of cooperation with Standard Chartered Bank, whose experts stand ready to assist in improving national profile legislation.

A separate block of the negotiations touched upon interaction with the British agency UKEF. The parties put forward initiatives for a detailed study of the organization's financial instruments, intensifying the preparation of joint programs, and strengthening direct working contacts between the relevant ministries and departments of both countries.

Beyond the financial sector, the partners addressed issues of regional development, urban planning, and the creation of master plans. It was noted that current projects implemented by Uzbekistan jointly with British companies make a significant contribution to designing sustainable infrastructure, implementing modern urban approaches, and shaping a comfortable urban environment.

Following the talks, the officials agreed to maintain a regular dialogue to accelerate ongoing initiatives and establish new vectors of interstate cooperation.

Summarizing the outcomes of the discussions at the Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) 2026, Ambassador Timothy Smart noted that the United Kingdom's comprehensive partnership with Uzbekistan covers not only financing and access to capital markets, but also education, technology, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and small-scale nuclear energy.

According to available data, Cambridge University Press provides textbooks aimed at developing critical thinking to 8.9 million students in Uzbekistan.

"We are here not just as guests," the Ambassador concluded. "We are here as long-term partners."