The city of Samarkand once again confirmed its status as one of the key centers of international political and economic dialogue. The holding of the 59th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank in early May 2026 became not only a major international event, but also a symbol of the growing authority of the New Uzbekistan on the global stage.
The forum, held under the motto “Crossroads of Progress: Advancing a Connected Future for the Region,” brought together more than four thousand representatives from over one hundred countries, including international experts, government officials, financial institutions, and business circles. The scale of the event demonstrates the growing interest of the international community in the transformations taking place in Uzbekistan and in its role in shaping a new architecture of regional cooperation.
Particular attention during the forum was drawn to the speech of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in which the key results of the country’s reform course were presented. In recent years, the economy of Uzbekistan has demonstrated stable growth dynamics. Since 2016, approximately 150 billion US dollars in foreign investment have been attracted to the country, the gross domestic product has nearly tripled, and the poverty level has significantly declined. These indicators reflect the systemic modernization of public administration, economic liberalization, and the expansion of international cooperation.
Equally important is the qualitative development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Asian Development Bank. Over thirty years of cooperation, the partnership has evolved from separate infrastructure projects into a comprehensive strategic model of interaction. The total portfolio of completed and ongoing projects has reached nearly 16 billion US dollars, while the new Partnership Program “Uzbekistan and ADB until 2030,” signed in Samarkand, предусматривает financing amounting to 12.5 billion US dollars.
An important feature of the current stage of cooperation is its focus on long term technological and infrastructure transformations. Among the strategic directions outlined by the President of Uzbekistan, special attention is given to digital transformation, the development of artificial intelligence, the transition to green energy, the development of critical mineral resources, and the strengthening of regional connectivity.
Particular attention should be paid to the initiative on the development of artificial intelligence and the establishment of a regional coordination center for the “Digital Highway for Asia” program in the city of Tashkent. This demonstrates Uzbekistan’s aspiration not only to adapt to global technological changes, but also to become one of the centers shaping these processes in Central Asia.
In the energy sector, Uzbekistan is already demonstrating significant progress. Large scale solar and wind power plants have been commissioned in the country, while the share of renewable energy sources continues to grow. Support from international financial institutions is gradually transforming Uzbekistan into one of the key participants in the emerging green energy space of Eurasia.
The Samarkand forum demonstrated that modern Uzbekistan strives not only for internal development, but also for the formation of a sustainable model of regional cooperation based on connectivity, investment, and technological modernization. Historically, Samarkand was a place where the trade and cultural routes of the Great Silk Road intersected. Today, this city is once again becoming a space where ideas for the future development of the region are being shaped and mechanisms of a new generation of international partnership are being developed.
* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.
