Uzbekistan Taps English Common Law for Tashkent Financial Centre, Eyes City of London Links

Uzbekistan is building direct ties between its new Tashkent International Financial Centre and the City of London, creating a special legal regime based on English common law principles to attract foreign investment, Javlon Vakhabov, director of the International Institute for Central Asia, said at the Central Asia-UK Think Tank Forum on September 22, 2026. The Tashkent International Financial Centre, established by presidential decree in March, will operate under a separate legal framework with an independent international commercial court and arbitration mechanisms. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved organizational measures for its launch on September 10. The system will not replace Uzbekistan's civil-law framework. In May, the National Investment Fund of Uzbekistan, managed by Franklin Templeton, became the first Uzbek fund to list internationally in London. Further state-linked companies are being prepared for potential international listings. The first CA5+UK foreign ministers' meeting was held in London in February, establishing a new regional cooperation platform.