TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 6. The Central Bank
of Uzbekistan and Standard Chartered Bank of the UK have explored
prospects for deepening cooperation in digital finance, financial
technologies, and international reserve management, Trend reports via the Uzbek
Central Bank.
The discussions were conducted between representatives of both
institutions on the sidelines of the 59th Annual Meeting of the
Asian Development Bank in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The parties exchanged perspectives on the development of digital
banking, fintech solutions, digital assets, digital custody
services, and cross-border payment infrastructure. Representatives
of Standard Chartered emphasized the increasing role of digital
finance in integrating traditional banking services with emerging
financial technologies.
Special attention was devoted to central bank digital currencies
(CBDCs), with the Central Bank of Uzbekistan indicating that it is
examining international practices in this domain and evaluating
relevant approaches in coordination with competent authorities.
The Central Bank further outlined its conservative framework for
international reserve management, prioritizing safety, liquidity,
and profitability, while underscoring ongoing efforts to diversify
reserve assets and fully automate reserve management processes.
The parties also reviewed global trends in reserve management,
including portfolio diversification, collaboration with custodian
banks, engagement of external asset managers, and opportunities
across diverse financial markets. Standard Chartered reaffirmed its
readiness to provide technical assistance and share expertise in
reserve management and investment diversification.
