Country
Uzbekistan

Local project partner
Central bank, commercial banks, 
State Agency for Consumer Protection,
Ministry of Technical & Higher Education

German project partner
--

Donor
BMZ

Duration
15.07.2021 - 30.06.2023

Uzbekistan has a population of approximately 34 million, of which nearly 60% are under the age of 30. One of the country's biggest challenges is a lack of employment opportunities and a very unequal standard of living between rural and urban areas. Provided educational opportunities are improved, Uzbekistan could draw on a large young workforce. However, high unemployment and low wages have led to mass migration to Russia and Kazakhstan over the past decade. The Uzbek government has therefore recently taken numerous measures to transform the state-run economic system into a private sector-led economy.

However, problematic factors for potential investors include strict state control of the financial sector and correspondingly limited access to credit, lengthy approval procedures, a lack of legal security and a deficient financial infrastructure. In rural areas in particular, access to suitable financial services remains difficult for large segments of the population. Another major problem is the lack of trust in banks.

The aim of the project is to reduce poverty, especially in rural areas, and to strengthen confidence in the financial sector. This is to be achieved through financial education, consumer protection and a responsible range of financial services. Together with local partners, potential users of financial services are to be provided with the knowledge and skills they need to use various financial services efficiently.

Tasks

• Measures to improve financial education and create transparency.
• Create capacities at financial institutions to provide savings products to population groups with a low to medium income level in particular.
• Increase sensitivity to consumer protection issues and improve the application of consumer protection regulations in banks to strengthen the population's trust in the financial sector.