Ben Black, the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), has concluded a multi-nation diplomatic and investment tour across Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.
On June 13, Black held meetings in Baku with Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, and Digital Development Minister Rashad Nabiyev. Discussions focused on expanding bilateral investment under the U.S.-Azerbaijan Strategic Partnership Charter, specifically targeting the Middle Corridor trade route, maritime logistics, and energy security.
On June 15, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a high-level meeting with Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Ben Black in Astana. The conversation focused on aligning DFC investments with Kazakhstan’s economic reforms, highlighting critical minerals, logistics, and artificial intelligence. Both sides advanced plans to open a permanent DFC representative office in Kazakhstan.
Today, on June 16 President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Ben Black. President of Uzbekistan met with American business executives at the Tashkent International Investment Forum. The discussions centered on a pipeline of large-scale projects, including the modernization of the domestic energy grid, critical minerals, and the construction of a new international airport in Tashkent. The Uzbek leadership formally supported launching a joint investment platform under their existing framework.
