Within the framework of the 59th Asian Development Bank Annual Meeting in Samarkand, representatives of the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a meeting with representatives of Standard Chartered to discuss international reserve management and digital finance.
During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the development of digital banking, fintech solutions, digital assets, digital custody, and cross-border settlement infrastructure. Standard Chartered representatives noted the growing role of digital finance in connecting traditional banking services with new financial technologies.
Special attention was paid to central bank digital currency. The Central Bank noted that it is studying international experience in the field of CBDC and assessing relevant approaches in cooperation with responsible institutions.
A separate part of the meeting was devoted to reserve management. The Central Bank noted that Uzbekistan follows a conservative approach to managing international reserves, with a focus on safety, liquidity, and profitability. At the same time, work is underway to further diversify reserve assets and fully automate reserve management processes.
The parties exchanged views on global trends in reserve management, including diversification of reserve portfolios, cooperation with custodian banks, engagement with external asset managers, and opportunities in different financial markets. Standard Chartered expressed readiness to provide technical support and share its expertise in areas relevant to reserve management and investment diversification.
The meeting also covered practical issues of cooperation, including custody services, clearing solutions, technical assistance, and further cooperation in financial market infrastructure. At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides expressed readiness to continue dialogue and explore practical areas of cooperation in reserve management, digital finance, and modern financial technologies.
