In order to ensure sustainable economic growth and strengthen social justice in Uzbekistan, a forum dedicated to expanding access to financial services for persons with disabilities was held on January 22 of this year.
The event served as an important platform for dialogue aimed at ensuring equal and sustainable access to financial services for persons with disabilities, thereby enhancing their economic activity and participation in society. During the forum, participants widely discussed existing challenges and barriers in accessing financial services, ways to improve the physical and digital accessibility of banking and payment services, and approaches to developing an inclusive environment within the financial sector.
The international event was attended by the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Association of Persons with Disabilities of Uzbekistan, as well as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and experts from commercial banks and payment systems.
Invited experts shared their practical experience, effective approaches, and developed solutions for implementing inclusive financial services. Special attention was paid to improving service quality, adapting banking infrastructure and ATMs to the needs of persons with disabilities, and introducing inclusive financial products and services.
In particular, Kapitalbank presented its inclusive service initiative — the “Equal Opportunities” program, which includes adapting branch infrastructure, training staff, and introducing financial products and services tailored to clients with disabilities. PAYNET also provided information on projects and services aimed at ensuring convenient access to financial services for persons with disabilities through electronic payments and its agent network. In addition, inclusive initiatives planned for 2026 were presented during the forum.
International organizations showcased their overall approaches and practical experience, placing priority on inclusive design, compliance with international standards, and strengthening institutional capacity. These experiences will serve as a basis for shaping the next steps of the Central Bank’s financial inclusion policy.
For reference: In 2025, the Central Bank approved the National Financial Inclusion Strategy for 2025–2030, which предусматривает specific directions and measures to improve access to financial services for persons with disabilities. Within the framework of this strategy, the Central Bank, in cooperation with the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, developed a dedicated Roadmap aimed at enhancing access to financial services for persons with disabilities.
