The annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank is taking place in Samarkand, bringing together thousands of participants this year — representatives of governments, international financial institutions, the private sector, and the expert community.
The Tajik delegation at the forum is led by the first deputy prime minister of the country, Hokim Holikzoda — the governor from the republic in the ADB. The delegation also includes Sulton Rahimzoda, the chairman of the State Committee on Investments and State Property Management – alternative governor in the ADB.
Events are being held from May 3 to 6 at the international center Silk Road Samarkand and include plenary sessions, thematic panels, business forums, and bilateral meetings.
Signals from ADB: focus on sustainable growth and regional connectivity
Speaking at the opening ceremony on May 4, the president of the Asian Development Bank, Masato Kanda, noted that the region is facing growing economic and climate challenges that require coordinated solutions.
“Today’s challenges require closer cooperation and coordination of efforts to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth,” he emphasized.
The head of the bank also stated the readiness to expand support to Central Asian countries, including funding infrastructure projects, developing the “green” economy, and digitalization.
Uzbek leader emphasizes regional integration and investments
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also spoke at the opening of the annual meeting, highlighting the significance of the forum for the entire Central Asian region.
He stated that Uzbekistan considers cooperation with the ADB as one of the key factors in accelerating economic reforms and modernizing the country’s infrastructure.
The head of Uzbekistan noted the importance of further expanding investments in transport, energy, and industry, and stressed the need to enhance regional connectivity and cooperation among Central Asian countries.
Particular attention, he said, should be given to joint projects aimed at developing “green” energy and increasing the resilience of regional economies to external challenges.
Tajikistan: focus on energy and infrastructure
For Tajikistan, participation in the annual ADB meeting is an opportunity to advance priority areas of economic policy and attract additional funding.
Main areas of cooperation include:
development of hydropower and modernization of energy infrastructure;
construction and reconstruction of transport corridors;
projects in the field of water supply and irrigation;
support for social infrastructure and sustainable development.
Special attention is given to the climate agenda — Tajikistan, with its significant hydropower potential, is considered one of the key ADB partners in promoting “green” energy in the region.
As macroeconomic indicators improve and debt sustainability policy is revised, there is a discussion about changing the financing structure.
It is expected that by 2027, the republic will be able to regain access to ADB’s credit instruments along with grant financing.
This will mark an important shift in the cooperation model, which in recent years has been limited to exclusively grant support.
New strategy and expectations from the forum
Participation in the Samarkand forum is taking place against the backdrop of preparing a new partnership strategy for Tajikistan with the ADB for 2026–2030. The recently adopted document suggests expanding investments and deepening cooperation in priority areas.
It is expected that during the annual meeting, the Tajik delegation will hold a series of negotiations with the bank’s leadership and international partners on launching new projects, including in energy and transport.
Central Asia in focus
The theme of the current meeting reflects the growing role of Central Asia as a region of strategic importance. The discussions center on the development of transport connectivity, energy transition, food security, and digital transformation.
Hosting the forum in Samarkand underscores the increasing interest of international investors in the region and opens up additional opportunities for Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan, to attract resources and expand economic cooperation.
Why it matters
The Samarkand meeting essentially defines the contours of future financial cooperation between Tajikistan and the ADB.
The transition from an exclusively grant model to a mixed model (grants + loans) could become one of the key changes in the country’s investment policy.
Amid growing competition for international funding, Tajikistan aims to secure its status as one of the priority recipients of ADB resources in Central Asia.
