Samarkand is hosting the 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), where global leaders have gathered to discuss regional growth, as the bank unveils a major $70 billion initiative to strengthen energy and digital connectivity across Asia and the Pacific.
A central announcement of the forum is a major programme led by the ADB to support cross-border energy integration and digital infrastructure development through to 2035.
The initiative will focus on linking regional power grids, expanding electricity trade between countries, and improving broadband access, particularly in remote and landlocked areas. According to officials, the programme aims to enhance economic integration, reduce energy costs and improve digital inclusion across the region.
ADB President Masato Kanda stated that energy and digital access will define the region’s future, with plans to connect 22,000 kilometres of power lines, integrate 20 gigawatts of renewable energy, and improve electricity access for 200 million people. The initiative is also expected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs and significantly reduce emissions.
Held under the theme “Crossroads of Progress”, the meeting in Samarkand brings together more than 4,000 delegates from more than 100 countries, including government officials, financial institutions and private-sector leaders.
Discussions are centred on green transformation, energy transition, digitalisation, food security and strengthening supply chains, all seen as critical to long-term economic resilience.
Major international institutions, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, are also taking part, highlighting the forum’s role as a key platform for global economic dialogue.
Uzbekistan has been a member of the ADB since 1995 and remains one of its largest partners, with a total project portfolio approaching $16 billion.
The country is hosting the annual meeting for the second time, underscoring its increasing role in regional cooperation and its ambitions to position itself as a key hub for connectivity and development across Central Asia.
The discussions in Samarkand are expected to shape future approaches to infrastructure, investment and regional integration, as countries seek to balance economic growth with sustainability and resilience.
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Uzbekistan will launch a new digital financial platform from 1 July aimed at simplifying access to finance for entrepreneurs, as part of broader efforts to support small businesses, encourage innovation and accelerate private sector development.
Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to block or significantly reduce river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty could have “far-reaching consequences”, after India's water minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that “not a single drop” of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years.
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