SMEs already contribute over 53% of Uzbekistan’s GDP and today’s discussion at TIIF2025 explored how entrepreneurship, long rooted in the country’s culture, is being further empowered through policy, technology, and investment.

The panel brought together Youssef Habesch, IFC’s Regional Manager for the Financial Institutions Group - who has moderated a session - Tetrashvili Nukri, CEO, TBC UZ, Marife Apilado, Director – Portfolio Management, PSOD, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Simone Zeh Atanasovski, Regional Associate Director, SME Finance and Development, EBRD, Roman Lavrentev, Chief Operating Officer, Uzum, Sanzhar Bolotov, Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce, Kyrgyz Republic.

Simone Zeh Atanasovski shared EBRD’s perspective on the key challenges, stating that access to finance remains the biggest hurdle for SMEs, especially in agriculture, where climate-related risks further widen the financing gap.

Nukri Tetrashvili highlighted how digital banking can close those gaps, explaining that TBC aims to make its products “as simple as possible - thinking about all age groups and needs.”

An important discussion on the untapped potential of SMEs and why this segment is increasingly attractive to international investors.