TASHKENT, April 16. /Dunyo IA/. Today, SQB (Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank), in cooperation with the Management Development Institute of Singapore, organized an international scientific and practical conference on the topic: "Transition to a Green Economy: Challenges and Perspectives," reports a correspondent of Dunyo IA.

At the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, the year 2025 has been declared the "Year of Environmental Protection and the Green Economy". The corresponding state program outlines key objectives, including strengthening the link between science and economic sectors to address global environmental challenges, studying international best practices, and implementing innovative approaches.

The event brought together not only representatives of domestic educational and financial institutions but also leading experts from reputable international organizations such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the French Development Agency, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Fitch Ratings, PricewaterhouseCoopers, BUREAU VERITAS, as well as researchers, university professors, and business community members.

The forum featured in-depth discussions on pressing topics such as the latest trends in the green economy, ESG principles, renewable energy sources, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, and green finance. Mechanisms for achieving sustainable development through the implementation of a national green taxonomy and international certification standards were also reviewed.

SQB has identified the transition to a green economy as a strategic priority. As Deputy Chairman of the Bank’s Management Board Shukhrat Yakubov noted, hundreds of green projects have been financed, foreign green credit lines attracted, and ESG standards introduced. The bank actively participates in ecological and social initiatives.

Rector of the Management Development Institute of Singapore in Tashkent, Ilkhom Mamatkulov, emphasized the role of education in this process: "Today, a higher education institution is not only a center for training personnel, but also a driver of transformation, shaping a new generation of leaders capable of acting in the face of environmental and technological risks".

Presentations at the event also highlighted advanced financial instruments and the role of banks in building a sustainable development ecosystem. The forum served as a platform for open dialogue, experience-sharing, and the establishment of new international partnerships.

– By the end of 2024, the bank’s green loan portfolio exceeded 11 percent. This means more than 560 million USD in green financing was issued, – noted Bobur Sultonmurodov, Director of the Green Banking Department of SQB, in an interview with a Dunyo IA correspondent. – The volume of the green loan portfolio continues to grow steadily each year. These indicators receive high marks from international financial institutions. The funds we allocate for energy-saving, water resource conservation, and waste recycling projects are yielding tangible results.

Additionally, earlier this year, the international rating agency Sustainable Fitch assigned Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank a Level 3 ESG rating with a total score of 59. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has also repeatedly recognized the bank’s contribution to green trade financing.