Uzbekistan is strengthening its public financial management system through digital innovation, international cooperation and reforms aimed at making public spending more efficient, transparent and aligned with long-term development priorities.
The Training Center under Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), held an international scientific and practical conference in Tashkent on August 21, 2026. The event brought together government officials, international organisations, academics and research institutions to discuss ongoing reforms and identify practical approaches to improving public financial management.
Discussions focused on several key areas, including digital transformation, artificial intelligence, green financing, gender-responsive budgeting, public investment management, fiscal risk management, internal audit and internal controls.
Participants also examined how sustainable development and environmental priorities can be incorporated into national financial management systems. Modern approaches such as medium-term fiscal planning, programme-based budgeting, green budgeting and Sustainable Development Goal budgeting were highlighted as important tools for improving the use of public resources.
Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, Otabek Fozilkarimov, emphasised the importance of viewing public finance from a people-centred perspective. He noted that government budgets ultimately translate into services and investments that affect education, healthcare, infrastructure, businesses and communities.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Uzbekistan Anas Fayyad Qarman said effective public financial management is essential for translating Uzbekistan’s economic, social and environmental priorities into better budget decisions and investments.
International cooperation was another major theme of the conference. Viktoria Mlynarcikova, Programme and Partnerships Specialist at UNDP’s Istanbul Regional Hub, highlighted Slovakia’s experience in public finance reform and its role in sharing lessons with Uzbekistan.
Experts also discussed the growing importance of state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships, risk management and artificial intelligence in modern financial systems. They stressed that successful reforms should take account of individual national circumstances rather than applying a single model to every country.
The conference forms part of broader efforts to modernise Uzbekistan’s public financial management system and improve the strategic use of public funds. UNDP continues to support these reforms through its Public Finance for Development project, implemented with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and supported by Slovakia’s Ministry of Finance.
Through continued innovation and international knowledge-sharing, Uzbekistan is seeking to build a more strategic, transparent and efficient public financial management system capable of supporting sustainable economic and social development.
