The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a loan of up to US$50 million to O’zsanoatqurilishbank (SQB) to expand financing opportunities for young entrepreneurs and small businesses across Uzbekistan.
The funding is being provided through the EBRD’s Youth in Business (YiB) Programme for Central Asia and will focus on supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that are owned or led by individuals under the age of 35.
SQB, Uzbekistan’s third-largest state-owned bank, will use the financing to improve access to capital for young business owners, helping them launch, expand, and strengthen their enterprises. The loan may be disbursed in either U.S. dollars or synthetic Uzbek som, providing flexibility for borrowers.
The initiative comes at a time when youth entrepreneurship is becoming increasingly important to Uzbekistan’s economic development. According to United Nations data, more than 61 percent of the country’s population is aged 35 or younger, creating a growing demand for employment opportunities and business development support.
By improving access to finance, the programme aims to encourage innovation, job creation, and private-sector growth while empowering a new generation of entrepreneurs. The EBRD considers youth-led enterprise development a key priority for fostering long-term economic resilience and sustainable growth in the region.
The investment further strengthens the EBRD’s partnership with Uzbekistan, where the bank has invested nearly US$6.9 billion across more than 200 projects supporting entrepreneurship, infrastructure, and economic modernization.
The new financing is expected to help young entrepreneurs turn ideas into successful businesses while contributing to the country’s broader economic transformation.
