Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum: FinTech talent and skills development in Central Asia
August 2026
At the inaugural Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum in Tashkent, Pedersen & Partners was represented by Evita Lune, Equity Partner and Global Head of the FinTech Practice Group, who contributed to two discussions focused on FinTech talent and skills development.
As part of the Latvia–Uzbekistan FinTech Roundtable, Evita joined Tina Luse, Managing Director (Head), Fintech Latvia Association; Nargis Dustmatova, Chairwoman, FinTech Association of Uzbekistan; and Jelena Jurane, Member of the Management Board & Chief Growth Officer, Magnetiq Bank, for the discussion “The Talent Scene in the Baltics and Europe, and the Potential for Collaboration.”
The session explored how established European FinTech hubs have developed strong talent ecosystems and what growing markets in Central Asia can learn from their experience, with a particular focus on local capability building, international talent, and cross-border cooperation.
Evita also participated in “The Skills-First Revolution: Academic Credentials versus Industry-Led Competencies”, alongside Bokhodir Ayupov, Vice President, Enterprise Uzbekistan; Dr. Francesco Pierangeli, Programme Director, MSc Financial Technology, University of Birmingham; Mirshod Qurbonov, First Deputy Director, Agency for Governance Efficiency under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Sardor Uzakov, ACCA, MBA, Project Leader, BCG; Tolibjon Mirzaqulov, Chief Executive Officer, Jett.uz; and Marion Bernardi, Global Head of Marketing, Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN).
Across both discussions, several themes stood out:
- FinTech talent strategies need to evolve as quickly as technology, regulation, and business models.
- Skills, relevant credentials, and track record are becoming increasingly important alongside academic qualifications.
- Emerging hubs need to strengthen local leadership capabilities while remaining connected to international talent.
- Cross-border cooperation can accelerate knowledge transfer and the development of stronger FinTech ecosystems.
The Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum brought together regulators, investors, founders, financial institutions, policymakers, and technology leaders to exchange perspectives on the future of finance, technology, and cross-border connectivity. The Forum is co-organised by the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) and co-hosted by Ant International.
Evita participated as part of the official Latvian delegation, with the support of the Fintech Latvia Association, Invest in Latvia, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.
We appreciate the opportunity to contribute to these discussions and exchange perspectives with leaders from across the international FinTech ecosystem.