How Uzbekistan Rewrote the Reform Playbook | Sobir Kurbanov

Development Economist and World Bank Consultant Sobir Kurbanov joins Dr. Dania Arayssi to discuss his field experience across Central Asia, focusing on three themes: practical reform experience, the role of donors, and the importance of institutions. He highlights Uzbekistan’s rapid, top-driven reforms under new leadership, contrasts that with Tajikistan’s Digital CASA connectivity efforts, and explains when budget support versus project lending is effective. The episode emphasizes the need for strong public finance systems, fiduciary trust, and durable institutions to sustain reforms, with special attention to energy sector and public–private dialogue.