From 3 to 6 May 2026, Samarkand hosted the 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), held under the theme "Crossroads of Progress: Advancing the Region’s Connected Future." The event brought together over 4,200 delegates from 69 countries, including finance ministers, central bank governors, and corporate leaders shaping the global economic agenda.

 

Over four days, the program featured more than 70 sessions and meetings, including the Board of Governors’ Meeting, thematic seminars, and youth-focused discussions. Key themes included green transformation, digitalization, and investment mobilization. The Business Forum emphasized infrastructure development through public–private partnerships (PPPs) and the mobilization of private capital to support sustainable growth across the region.

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Major regional initiatives highlighted during the meeting included the Pan-Asian Power Grid, aimed at strengthening cross-border energy connectivity and accelerating the clean energy transition, and the Asia-Pacific Digital Highway, designed to expand digital infrastructure and enhance regional data connectivity.

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On the sidelines of the meeting, discussions between ADB President Masato Kanda and the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev focused on deepening strategic cooperation, scaling up investments, and advancing priority reforms. Particular attention was given to energy transition, infrastructure modernization, private sector development, and enhancing Uzbekistan’s role as a regional connectivity hub.

 

Samarkand became a global platform for strategic dialogue between governments and the private sector. The event attracted significant international attention, with 117 accredited journalists covering the meeting, including 84 representatives from international media across 29 countries—making it the most widely covered ADB Annual Meeting in history.