UK Minister of State for Investment Lord Stockwood has concluded a visit to Uzbekistan focused on strengthening economic cooperation and expanding bilateral engagement on finance, investment and infrastructure. The visit included participation in the Tashkent International Investment Forum and meetings with senior Uzbek government and business leaders.  

During the visit, Lord Stockwood met President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov, Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov, and representatives of the National Agency for Prospective Projects and the transport sector. Discussions focused on Uzbekistan’s economic reform agenda, the role of the UK’s financial and professional services sector, and opportunities to deepen cooperation on capital markets, privatisation and infrastructure finance  

At the Tashkent International Investment Forum, Lord Stockwood took part in a senior UK panel on mobilising UK capital for Uzbekistan’s sustainable and inclusive growth, alongside partners from the London Stock Exchange, UK Export Finance and the private sector. The discussion highlighted how the UK can support Uzbekistan through debt financing, including Eurobonds, capital raising through IPOs on the London Stock Exchange, and UKEF credit guarantees for major projects. It should be highlighted that this year TIIF attracted the largest ever UK business delegation with over 200 people representing the UK companies.

This visit underlined the UK’s commitment to supporting Uzbekistan’s reform journey and demonstrated that the UK sees Uzbekistan as a serious and growing economic partner.  

Lord Stockwood said: “Uzbekistan is undertaking an ambitious programme of economic reform, and the United Kingdom wants to be a practical, long-term partner in that journey. From financial and professional services to capital markets and infrastructure finance, the UK is well placed to support Uzbekistan’s growth ambitions. My visit reflects how seriously we take our growing economic partnership with Uzbekistan.”