Uzbekistan forum puts women’s leadership and human capital on the economic agenda

By AI, Created 5:30 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – The 2nd Asian Women’s Forum in Bukhara is spotlighting women’s leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation as economic drivers across Central Asia. Alona Lebedieva says Uzbekistan is emerging as a regional platform for discussion and a test case for broader development reforms.

Why it matters: - Women’s participation in the economy is becoming a competitiveness issue for Central Asia, not just a social policy debate. - Forums focused on entrepreneurship, science, innovation and digital security can translate into partnerships, training, financing and market access. - Uzbekistan’s role matters because the country is trying to pair economic growth with reforms, human capital development and international cooperation.

What happened: - The 2nd Asian Women’s Forum is being held in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, from May 13–15, 2026. - The forum has brought together representatives from more than 40 countries and international organizations. - Alona Lebedieva, owner of Aurum Group, said the forum shows women’s leadership in Central Asia is being viewed through an economic lens as well as a social one. - Forum topics include women’s economic participation, entrepreneurship, science, innovation, artificial intelligence and digital security.

The details: - Lebedieva said human capital, science, entrepreneurship and innovation are now part of a broader economic transformation in the region. - Central Asia is moving beyond a narrow view of its potential based only on resources, logistics or geography. - Countries are increasingly being judged by how well they bring more people into economic development, support business creation and expand access to education, technology and international cooperation. - Lebedieva said women’s economic participation is about productivity, innovation and competitiveness for countries undergoing modernization. - She said economies gain a broader growth base when women have access to education, financing, technology, entrepreneurship and management decision-making. - Uzbekistan is emerging as one of the region’s most dynamic examples, with steady growth, ongoing reforms and a stronger position as an international venue for dialogue. - The IMF says Uzbekistan’s real GDP grew 7.7% in 2025 and is forecast to grow 6.8% in 2026. - The IMF linked that momentum to investment, domestic demand, reforms and strong economic activity at the start of 2026. - Lebedieva said sustainable growth creates demand for partnerships, technology, production solutions, financial tools and management expertise. - She said investors and companies should assess not only growth figures, but also how Uzbekistan approaches entrepreneurship, education, digitalization, institutions and human capital. - Lebedieva said state support for women’s entrepreneurship, scientific cooperation and innovation signals a more comprehensive development strategy. - UNDP says women’s entrepreneurship remains an important part of Uzbekistan’s economic policy. - UNDP identified access to financing, professional skills, digital literacy, mentorship and scaling as key challenges for women entrepreneurs. - UNDP is implementing a women’s entrepreneurship support program in Uzbekistan to expand women’s economic opportunities.

Between the lines: - The forum is doing more than highlighting equality goals. It is also signaling that Uzbekistan wants to be seen as a hub for regional economic policy conversations. - Lebedieva’s framing ties women’s leadership to investor confidence, suggesting that inclusion can be read as a marker of institutional maturity. - The emphasis on science, engineering and digital economy skills points to a larger race for talent across Central Asia. - Uzbekistan’s combination of growth, reforms and openness may give the country an edge as companies look for new regional entry points.

What’s next: - Lebedieva said the forum will matter most if it leads to working networks, partnerships, education programs, financing tools and international cooperation. - Future gains will depend on whether women’s entrepreneurship and innovation programs produce scalable business and labor-market outcomes. - Uzbekistan’s ability to keep pairing macroeconomic growth with human capital investment will help determine how strongly it can position itself as a regional platform.

The bottom line: - Uzbekistan is using the Asian Women’s Forum to project a broader message: human capital, women’s economic participation and innovation are now central to the country’s growth story.