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 The inaugural edition of the Silk Road Finance and Technology Forum commenced on Monday in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. The three-day global summit is co-organized by the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), a non-profit organization established in 2024 by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

The forum convenes approximately 2,000 delegates, including financial regulators, central bank governors, institutional investors, and tech founders from Central Asia, ASEAN member states, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and South Asia. Participating institutions include current and former officials from the central banks of Kenya, Cambodia, and Thailand, alongside delegates from the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.

The first two days of discussions are hosted at the Central Asia Expo Center, while the third day will convene at the Center for Islamic Civilization in Tashkent to focus on Digital Islamic Finance, concluding with the official signing of the landmark Azimuth Charter.

Silk Road Finance and Technology Forum Overview

The table below outlines the summit’s operational structure, institutional partners, and primary focus areas:

Summit DimensionStrategic Details & Specifications

EventSilk Road Finance and Technology Forum (Inaugural Edition)

Host City & Venues

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

 

• Days 1–2: Central Asia Expo Center

 

• Day 3: Center for Islamic Civilization

Co-Organizers

• Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan

 

• Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN – founded by MAS in 2024)

Attendance Scope~2,000 delegates across Central Asia, ASEAN, GCC, South Asia, and Africa

Key Participating RegulatorsPBOC (China), Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Pakistan), Central Banks of Kenya, Cambodia, and Thailand

Major MilestoneFormal signing of the Azimuth Charter on Digital Islamic Finance

Core Thematic Pillars

The forum’s agenda centers on five primary strategic tracks driving regional and cross-border fintech integration:

Open Banking & API Frameworks: Modernizing banking interoperability, data sharing, and regulatory standards.

Digital Assets & Stablecoins: Regulatory frameworks, tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), and fiat-pegged stablecoin utility.

Cross-Border Payments: Enhancing settlement efficiency, liquidity routing, and reducing friction across Eurasian trade corridors.

Digital Islamic Finance: Integrating Sharia-compliant financial products with digital infrastructure and decentralized tools.

Startup Innovation & Venture Capital: Accelerating early-stage funding, talent mobility, and regional incubation hubs.