World Bank and Uzbekistan Discuss Development of E-Procurement and AI Implementation

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 20 January 2026, Gulnora Rakhimova, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, held a working meeting with a World Bank delegation led by Felipe Goya, Head of the Public Procurement Practice for Europe and Central Asia.

The meeting also included Anastasia Alexandrova, World Bank Program Coordinator in Uzbekistan, senior procurement specialist Jentu Liu, and several other responsible officials.

The discussions focused on key areas of cooperation in public procurement. The parties examined the development of the electronic public procurement system and explored opportunities to implement artificial intelligence to increase sector efficiency, expand the practice of “green” public procurement, improve contract management, and establish comprehensive monitoring of procurement procedures by state clients.

Special attention was given to initiatives aimed at enhancing competition and ensuring transparency in public procurement, which the participants noted would strengthen public oversight.

Felipe Goya confirmed the World Bank’s readiness to support the implementation of the priority objectives set forth in Presidential Decree PF–259 of December 26, 2025, “On Additional Measures to Ensure a Competitive Environment and Transparency in the Public Procurement System” of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Following the meeting, both sides agreed to further accelerate reforms in public procurement and to develop new joint projects with technical and financial support from the World Bank.