The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is strengthening competition and private sector development in Uzbekistan’s food-service industry through new financing for ABN-MB Group, a leading operator of coffee shops and restaurants across the country. The initiative aims to enhance operational capacity and improve market efficiency in the rapidly growing hospitality sector.
Under the agreement, the EBRD is providing a loan of up to €6 million to support the company’s capital expansion programme. The financing will enable the purchase of specialised food-production equipment and the construction of a new production and warehousing facility. Once completed, the investment is expected to double the company’s centralised food-production capacity, improve overall efficiency, and reduce reliance on imported products by localising key production processes.
The expansion project also incorporates climate-focused components through the EBRD’s Finance and Technology Transfer Centre for Climate Change (FINTECC) programme. Through blended concessional finance of up to €70,000, the company will adopt energy-efficient equipment and insulation materials and install solar panels to enhance sustainability and lower energy consumption.
Additional backing for the initiative comes from the Japan-EBRD Cooperation Fund, reflecting international support for private sector growth and green transition efforts in Uzbekistan. To date, the EBRD has invested nearly US$ 6.9 billion across more than 200 projects in the country, making Uzbekistan the leading recipient of EBRD financing in Central Asia over the past six years, with a strong focus on private entrepreneurship.
