# EBRD Lends Up to $20 Million to Uzbekistan's Star Group for Working Capital and Growth

> The EBRD is lending up to $20 million to Star Group, an Uzbek FMCG distributor, to fund working capital and expansion of its beauty-shop retail chain.

- Published: 2026-11-06T17:42:35+00:00
- Section: Funding
- Author: News Desk
- URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-06/star-group-ebrd-loan-uzbekistan
- Source: [Request Blocked](https://www.ebrd.com/home/news-and-events/news/2026/ebrd-extends-loan-to-star-group-in-uzbekistan.html)

## Key takeaways

- The EBRD is lending up to $20 million to Star Group, a Tashkent-based FMCG distributor.
- The loan will finance working capital and expansion of Star Group's Tashkent- and Samarkand-based beauty-shop retail chain.
- Grant funding from the EBRD and the Japan-EBRD Cooperation Fund will support Star Group's corporate governance action plan.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is lending up to $20 million to Star Group, a Tashkent-based distributor of fast-moving consumer goods, to finance working capital and business expansion. The EBRD [announced](https://www.ebrd.com/home/news-and-events/news/2026/ebrd-extends-loan-to-star-group-in-uzbekistan.html) the loan on November 6, 2026.

## Star Group's Loan and Retail Chain Plans

The loan goes to Support Samarqand, Bloomshop, Star Distribution and Star FMCG, which operate collectively as [Star Group](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0004k66/star-group). The EBRD said the funds will cover the group's working capital needs and support its expansion, including growth of its beauty-shop retail chain in Tashkent and Samarkand. Star Group will use the financing to extend its regional presence and widen its product range.

Grant funding from the EBRD and the Japan-EBRD Cooperation Fund will help Star Group develop a corporate governance action plan. The EBRD will also set up a mentorship programme aimed at supporting women's careers and retaining female staff at the company.

The EBRD said it has invested almost $7.3 billion in Uzbekistan to date through 219 projects, with most of those funds directed to private entrepreneurship.

## Star Group's Earlier EBRD Financing

Star Group previously secured a $14 million loan from the EBRD in May 2024, according to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data). That financing was designated for working capital, regional expansion, construction of an energy-efficient warehouse and electric vehicle acquisition. The same records list a May 2024 grant of $82,000 led by FINTECC and show two funding rounds on file for the company.

| Date | Instrument | Amount | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | Loan | $14 million | EBRD |
| May 2024 | Grant | $82,000 | FINTECC |
| November 2026 | Loan | Up to $20 million | EBRD |

## Other Recent EBRD Deals in the Region

The EBRD said on November 5, 2026, that it is investing up to €64 million in AikGroup, a south-eastern European banking group, for a 5% stake, [according to the EBRD](https://www.ebrd.com/home/news-and-events/news/2026/ebrd-invests-in-aikgroup-to-support-growth-and-wider-banking-sec.html). On the same date, the EBRD [announced](https://www.ebrd.com/home/news-and-events/news/2026/ebrd-backs-uluda-cecek-investment-in-earthquake-hit-turkish-city.html) a loan of up to €45 million to Uludağ İçecek for a new mineral water and soft drinks facility in Malatya, Turkey. The EBRD also [provided](https://www.ebrd.com/home/news-and-events/news/2026/ebrd-deepens-cooperation-with-mortgage-refinancing-company-of-uz.html) a $50 million loan to Uzbekistan's Mortgage Refinancing Company on November 5, 2026.

## Companies in this story

- [Star Group company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0004k66/star-group) · website: https://stargroup.uz

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