A delegation from the Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) visited Uzbekistan from 1 to 6 March 2026. The visit reinforced the Bank’s strong partnership with Uzbekistan and its continued commitment to supporting sustainable, inclusive, and competitive economic growth in the country.

The delegation included Directors and Alternate Directors representing the Bank’s shareholders, namely Liliana de Sá Kirchknopf, Host Director for Switzerland, Ukraine, Liechtenstein, Turkmenistan, Serbia, Montenegro, and Uzbekistan; Vanessa MacDougall, Director for the United Kingdom; Magnus Rystedt, Director for Sweden, Iceland, and Estonia; Maria Shaw‑Barragan, Director for the European Investment Bank; Piotr Szpunar, Director for Poland, Bulgaria, and Albania; Marco Zanni, Director for Italy; Mikko Autti, Alternate Director for Norway, Finland, Latvia, and Lebanon; Esti Feldman, Alternate Director for Austria, Israel, Cyprus, Malta, Kazakhstan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina; Andrew Smith, Alternate Director for Canada, Morocco, Jordan, and Tunisia; José Tavares, Alternate Director for Portugal, Greece, San Marino, and India; and Konrad von Hoff, Alternate Director for Germany.

During their visit, the delegation held meetings in Tashkent and Samarkand with senior Uzbek officials, including EBRD Governor Jamshid Khodjaev. They also engaged with representatives of the central bank, international financial institutions, the diplomatic community, and key EBRD clients operating in banking, renewable energy, and general manufacturing. In addition, the delegation met members of civil society to gain a broader understanding of the country’s development priorities.

The discussions focused on Uzbekistan’s economic outlook, reform priorities, and investment opportunities, with particular attention to the banking sector, renewable energy, and manufacturing. The programme emphasized the importance of strengthening the private sector, enhancing competitiveness, and supporting the country’s ongoing transition agenda. Meetings with financial-sector stakeholders and international partners highlighted the value of close coordination in promoting access to finance, supporting private-sector development, and ensuring sustainable impact. Interactions with corporate clients provided firsthand insights into how EBRD investments contribute to productivity, innovation, and growth across key sectors of the economy.

The visit underscored the EBRD’s ongoing commitment to Uzbekistan through policy dialogue, investment, and advisory support, reinforcing the Bank’s role as a long-term partner in the country’s economic transformation. Since commencing operations in Uzbekistan, the EBRD has invested more than €5.8 billion in over 200 projects spanning a wide range of sectors. These investments have helped enhance competitiveness by strengthening the private sector, promoting green energy and resource-efficient solutions, and supporting greater regional and international cooperation and integration.