The Export-Import Bank of China has extended a $500mn loan to Uzbekistan to support the development of the country’s telecommunications infrastructure, according to a statement from the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade.

The agreement was signed following a meeting on June 21 between Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, and Chen Huaiyu, Chairman of the Board of Eximbank of China. The funding is aimed at advancing Uzbekistan’s information and communication technologies as part of its broader digital transformation strategy.

Minister Kudratov emphasized the importance of the project’s timely and effective implementation, noting that Eximbank’s support would play a vital role in improving digital connectivity and expanding IT services across the country.

In addition to the telecommunications agreement, both sides discussed expanding cooperation in other sectors, including hydropower construction, sustainable agriculture, and transport infrastructure modernization.

Since the beginning of the partnership in 2002, Uzbekistan and Eximbank of China have implemented 51 joint projects worth a total of $3.2bn, spanning infrastructure, green energy, agriculture, education, healthcare, and more. Currently, two projects worth $1.9bn are underway, with an additional 13 projects valued at $2.2bn under consideration.

According to the National Statistics Committee, the volume of telecommunications services in Uzbekistan reached UZS 7.7 trillion ($611mn) in the first four months of 2025, marking a 14.4% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

As of 2025, Uzbek telecommunications operators with mobile or wired networks have also been granted the right to directly connect to international Internet networks for commercial purposes on a trial basis—an initiative expected to improve service quality and reduce dependency on intermediaries.