The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has signed a $70 million investment loan agreement with Uzum, Uzbekistan’s largest digital ecosystem, to accelerate the expansion of Uzum’s FinTech business, one of the leading and fastest-growing players in Uzbekistan’s burgeoning digital finance market.
The agreement marks the Bank’s first-ever investment in Uzbekistan since the country joined the organization – a strategic move by the EDB into digital infrastructure and platform economies, extending its focus from traditional sectors to digital platforms that drive long‑term economic growth.
EDB financing will support the continued scaling of Uzum’s fintech vertical, which is rapidly becoming a core layer of Uzbekistan’s digital economy – expanding access to digital payments, consumer finance, and financial services for small businesses and households.
Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board said: “Digital platforms are becoming a vital part of modern economic infrastructure. By partnering with Uzum, the EDB is expanding access to financial services, fostering entrepreneurship, and investing in a regional technology platform that can strengthen economic connectivity across Eurasia – including with China and the Middle East”.
Djasur Djumaev, Founder and CEO of Uzum said: “We are building fintech infrastructure at a national scale — deeply embedded into everyday economic activity. This investment is an important recognition of Uzum’s role in shaping the infrastructure for Uzbekistan’s future development. It also reflects a broader shift, where digital platforms are becoming a key focus for development finance and international capital”.
Uzbekistan is emerging as one of the fastest‑growing digital economies in Eurasia, driven by rapid adoption of cashless payments, expanding digital financial services, and strong demographic tailwinds from a young, digitally active population. More than 70 million bank cards are currently in circulation across the country.
