Uzbekistan can unlock significant private investment, create more and better jobs, and accelerate its transition to a more competitive, private sector-led economy by advancing reforms in logistics, tourism, and pharmaceuticals, according to IFC, a member of the World Bank Group. A new Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CPSD) for Uzbekistan, released by the World Bank Group,
International investor interest in Central Asia and the Caucasus is rising rapidly, according to a new Investor Perception Report released by Montfort Eurasia. New data shows that interest from US and UK investors in the region has tripled since 2023 – despite lingering concerns over political stability and investment security. Investors showed particular interest in
A “Republic of Kazakhstan – United States of America” Business Roundtable was held in Astana last week, bringing together representatives of government agencies, the business community, international corporations, financial institutions, and expert circles from both countries. The event served as an important platform for discussing a new stage of Kazakhstan-U.S. economic cooperation based on investment,
The Uzbekistan–Georgia Business Forum was held in Tbilisi on July 1, providing a platform for advancing bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation between the two countries. The event brought together government officials, financial institutions and business leaders from Uzbekistan and Georgia to explore new opportunities for economic partnership, according to the Uzbek Ministry of Investments,
The “Investing in Central Asia: Opportunities and Partnerships” session dedicated to attracting capital from the Gulf countries and China was held on the second day of the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Almaty last week. Ruslan Dalenov, Deputy Chairman of the EDB Management Board, noted that the Bank envisages five
An Afghan–Kyrgyz Forum was held in Bishkek with the participation of business representatives from both countries, including officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the Kyrgyz government, TOLOnews reported. Addressing the forum, Abdul Shakoor Haqqani, acting head of the Afghan Embassy in Bishkek, emphasized expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and transportation. An agreement
During his working visit to China on June 23, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with Premier of the State Council of China Li Qiang. The parties discussed the implementation of agreements reached at the highest level, as well as prospects for further strengthening Kazakh-Chinese cooperation, including trade development, expansion of investment
The European Investment Bank (EIB) on June 18 opened its Regional Representation for Central Asia in Tashkent, bringing its teams closer to partners and projects throughout the region, the bank said. The office was inaugurated by EIB Vice-President Marek Mora, who highlighted the bank’s growing engagement in Central Asia and its expanding pipeline of investments
Over the past three decades, the post-Soviet space has embraced megaprojects with a fervour reminiscent of Soviet-era “gigantomania”. A new terminal, a new city, a new tech hub, a new railway – each presented as a leap into the future. Too many of these projects have turned out not to be engines of growth, but
On June 18, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a plenary session of the Foreign Investors Council. The meeting was attended by President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Odile Renaud-Basso, executives of leading international companies, banks, and financial institutions. Addressing the meeting, the President noted that in recent years the Council under
Arman Issetov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, and Diego Martínez, State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain took part in the first Kazakhstan-Spain Forum held on June 17 in Astana, according to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. Deputy Minister Issetov noted the active
Over the past years Uzbekistan has attracted more than $150 billion in foreign investment, of which $123 billion has been secured in the last five years alone, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said in his address at the Fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum. We are implementing systemic measures to improve fundamentally the investment climate in
The Uzbekistan-Turkiye Business Forum was held on June 16 in Tashkent. The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan Jamshid Kuchkarov, Minister of Trade of Turkiye Omer Bolat, as well as representatives of government agencies, business circles, investors, major corporations, and business associations from both countries, according
On June 15, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on plans to develop the raw material base for critical minerals and expand the production of high value-added products. The President emphasized that the critical minerals sector plays a crucial role in developing new industries, increasing exports, ensuring technological independence, and creating highly skilled jobs. Global demand
Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov and Gholam Ali Soleimani, president of the Iranian food company Solico Group, have signed an investment agreement for a major project in deep milk processing. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the cheese production project, with a capacity of 155,000 tons per year, will be implemented in the Almaty region.
From June 16 to 18, Tashkent will host the fifth anniversary Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF), an event that has evolved over five years from a discussion platform into a key indicator of investment interest in Central Asia. Prior to the official opening, the number of registered participants has exceeded 8,316, setting an absolute record
On June 11, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov chaired the 19th meeting of the Kazakhstan–European Union dialogue platform with the participation of heads of diplomatic missions of European countries, representatives of major foreign business associations, and companies. The meeting discussed issues of the investment climate, harmonization of technical standards and regulatory approaches, customs administration,
On June 8, the Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, met with the US Assistant Secretary of Commerce, David Fogel. The parties discussed the current status and future prospects for expanding bilateral trade, economic, investment, and industrial cooperation. It was emphasized that the United States remains a key partner for Uzbekistan, with
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the government of Kazakhstan are extending their long-term strategic partnership that will help to boost investment and drive forward reforms in the country, the EBRD said. The enhanced partnership framework arrangement (EPFA) between the EBRD and Central Asia’s largest economy was signed at the Bank’s 35th Annual
Central Asia and Mongolia will remain resilient to geopolitical shocks and record the highest growth rates of the EBRD countries of operation in 2026 and 2027, according to the latest Regional Economic Prospects report published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The economies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are projected to grow by 5.6 per cent