Uzbekistan positions itself as regional growth hub at ADB annual meeting

At the 59th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), President Shavkat Mirziyoyev highlighted Uzbekistan’s economic transformation and outlined ambitious plans for regional cooperation, digital innovation, and sustainable development

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2026) At the 59th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), President Shavkat Mirziyoyev highlighted Uzbekistan’s economic transformation and outlined ambitious plans for regional cooperation, digital innovation, and sustainable development.

Welcoming delegates to Samarkand, the president emphasized the country’s historic role as a crossroads of civilizations along the Silk Road, now re-emerging as a platform for global dialogue, said a release issued here on Monday.

He described “New Uzbekistan” as a nation undergoing rapid reform since 2016, with a focus on liberalizing the economy, improving infrastructure, and raising living standards.

According to Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has attracted US$150 billion in foreign investment in recent years, while its economy has nearly tripled in size, from US$ 50 billion to US$ 147 billion. Energy production has also surged, supported by US$ 35 billion in investments, boosting electricity output to 87 billion kilowatt-hours.

Exports have tripled, and poverty has sharply declined from nearly 35 percent to 5.8 percent.

The president credited international partners, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, for supporting reforms.

He noted that Uzbekistan and the ADB were currently implementing projects worth nearly US$ 16 billion, with a new US$ 12 billion cooperation program signed during the forum.

Mirziyoyev outlined six priority areas for future collaboration. These included expanding artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, boosting renewable energy capacity, strengthening transport and logistics corridors, developing critical mineral industries, addressing climate change, and enhancing tourism across Central Asia.

He announced plans to establish an Artificial Intelligence Hub and scale up over 200 AI-related projects, while also supporting the ADB’s “Digital Highway for Asia” initiative.

In energy, Uzbekistan aims to increase the share of renewable sources to 54 percent by 2030.

Regional connectivity was another key focus, particularly the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, which is expected to significantly cut delivery times and increase cargo capacity.

The president also proposed a “Digital Customs and Logistics Alliance” to streamline trade.

On environmental issues, Mirziyoyev highlighted large-scale tree planting efforts and proposed a “Central Asia Green Belt” initiative to combat climate change and desertification.

Tourism development also featured prominently, with Uzbekistan seeing a sixfold increase in visitors over the past decade. The president proposed creating a “Central Asia Tourism Ring” to promote the region as a unified destination.

Concluding his address, Mirziyoyev reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to working closely with international partners and invited participants to explore the country’s cultural heritage and modern development.

The forum brought together more than 4,000 participants from over 100 countries, underscoring the growing importance of regional cooperation in addressing global economic challenges.