Photo: Bahtiyar Abdulkerimov / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP
Eurasia/ “Dunyo” Information Agency of Uzbekistan
01/08/2025 21:14
Geography as a Challenge — and a Strategy
The absence of access to the sea complicates logistics, raises the cost of exports and imports, and necessitates the development of multilateral transport corridors. Instead of opting for isolation, Uzbekistan is betting on international cooperation and proactive diplomacy. Under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the country has become a dynamic investment platform, actively integrating into global value chains.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has turned this geographic challenge into a competitive economic advantage through an active foreign economic policy, expansive investment diplomacy, and a proactive approach to organizing business forums and B2B platforms.
Uzbekistan: A B2B Diplomacy Hub in Central Asia
Uzbekistan has emerged as a key initiator of large-scale international business forums, high-level meetings, and regular B2B and G2B negotiations. These events serve as important bridges between Uzbek companies and foreign investors, laying the groundwork for joint ventures, direct investment, and technology transfer.
This systematic work to diversify trade and investment ties and strengthen the investment climate has gained momentum, particularly during the country's international visits. Business forums, roundtables, and B2B meetings have been held in conjunction with visits to the UAE, Turkey, Hungary, France, Germany, China, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and other countries, involving leading global corporations – from ACWA Power and Masdar to Huawei, BYD, and Saudi Aramco.
These platforms not only discussed future prospects, but also resulted in concrete agreements, the creation of joint working groups, and the launch of projects in energy, transport, pharmaceuticals, the digital economy, and logistics. These interactions are living proof of how targeted B2B diplomacy can be transformed into sustainable investment flows and technological advancement.
Culmination: Tashkent International Investment Forum, June 2025
The event brought together more than 3,000 participants from 97 countries, including representatives of global corporations such as Boeing, Visa, NASDAQ, Air Products, Morgan Stanley, Coca-Cola, Franklin Templeton, ACWA Power, Masdar, Total Energies, Linde, DataVolt, Veon, Meta, John Deere, SpaceX, EDF, Goldwind, Çalik Holding, Çengiz Holding — leaders in aviation, fintech, green energy, digital solutions, and infrastructure.
High-level guests included EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso, NDB President Dilma Rousseff, and 450 senior officials, among them more than 300 government representatives.
In April 2025, the EU–Central Asia Summit was held in Samarkand, resulting in the signing of a $13.2 billion investment package focused on green energy and logistics.
A number of bilateral forums were held across regions from South Asia to Europe, including in Pakistan, where meetings involved Al Rafique Enterprises, Mehran Dates, Brighto Chemicals, FWO, Pakistan Mobile, TCS, Silk Way, and Getz Pharma. The discussions covered projects in agro-industry, logistics, and telecommunications.
In the UAE, Uzbekistan took part in Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, setting priorities for the country’s green economic transformation. Masdar has become Uzbekistan’s flagship partner in hydrogen energy, solar power plants, and eco-technologies.
In Saudi Arabia (June 2025), within the framework of the Foreign Investors Council, cooperation with ACWA Power deepened — the company is implementing multi-billion-dollar projects in Karakalpakstan and Jizzakh.
In Hungary, an investment plan was adopted for the IT sector and digital economy.
In Vietnam, discussions were held on organizing a business exhibition in Hanoi focused on industrial cooperation in textiles, electrical engineering, and agro-production.
Further business forums were held with partners from Japan (210 participants), Indonesia, Malaysia, Italy (covering technical education, transport, textiles), Azerbaijan (SOCAR, PASHA Holding, Global Textile), Afghanistan (over 1,000 entrepreneurs, 75 companies), and Kyrgyzstan (over 100 companies held negotiations).
Investment Results: From Words to Action
The results of the first half of 2025 clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of Uzbekistan’s strategy. While the State Investment Program had planned to absorb $18.7 billion in foreign investment, actual inflows reached $20.99 billion, representing 135% growth compared to the same period last year. Of this amount, $18.8 billion accounted for foreign direct investment (FDI), and another $2.2 billion came from international financial institutions.
Leading sectors included:
Notable progress was achieved not only in Tashkent ($1.7 billion, 2.4x growth), but also in the regions:
Particular attention was given to regional investment development. Districts such as Karmana, Mirzo-Ulugbek, Almazar, and Yunusabad each surpassed the $200 million investment mark.
Uzbekistan’s international partnerships showed impressive dynamics:
One of the tangible results of the B2B format was the commissioning of 30 major facilities worth $2.5 billion, creating over 3,200 new jobs. The largest projects include:
Regional Investment Program: Development with a Human Face
Investment expansion is reaching even the most remote regions. Direct negotiations and B2B meetings with local authorities and investors have become essential in identifying regional economic potential. According to the State Regional Investment Program for 2025, 8,012 projects are planned, worth $13.4 billion, expected to create 272,100 jobs.
In the first half of 2025, 3,464 projects were launched (worth $2.2 billion), creating 77,200 jobs — more than 1,000 of these projects were implemented ahead of schedule.
Notable examples:
In the second half of the year, the launch of 4,900 additional projects is planned, totaling $11.6 billion and creating 210,000 jobs.
Major upcoming projects include:
Logistics Geopolitics: Diversifying Transport Corridors
For a landlocked country like Uzbekistan, the development of alternative transport routes is of strategic importance. The country is actively diversifying its logistics chains via routes through Iran, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and the Caucasus to the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea, as well as through China and Kazakhstan to East Asian and European markets.
Uzbekistan is developing multimodal logistics centers, dry ports, and rail links, including within the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) and the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan corridor.
Conclusion
Uzbekistan is strategically leveraging its geography to deepen cooperation with global leaders in energy and ecology: Masdar, ACWA Power, Goldwind, Total Energies, and Linde are investing in green energy, renewables, and hydrogen solutions.
In digital transformation, companies like DataVolt, Veon, Meta, Visa, NASDAQ, and IT Park are forming the foundation of Uzbekistan’s digital ecosystems.
In infrastructure and logistics, firms such as John Deere, Çalik Holding, Çengiz Holding, and SOCAR are engaging in railway development, agrotechnology, and industrial infrastructure.
The country is actively using B2B tools — Uzbekistan has created a sustainable investment cooperation model through forums, G2B, B2B engagements, and investor dialogue, fully integrating business into its diplomatic agenda.
Geography is being turned into a lever — the country is using its position to expand transit corridors such as China–Central Asia–Europe and Iran–Turkmenistan–Caspian, launching dry port projects and multimodal hubs.
Focus on sustainability and innovation — investments are concentrated in strategic sectors: energy, IT, industry, and healthcare.
The path chosen by Uzbekistan proves that even geographically constrained and transit-vulnerable countries can become growth drivers. With a skillful blend of strategic planning, investment diplomacy, and direct B2B engagement, the country is realizing large-scale projects, transforming its regions, and integrating into global production chains.
Uzbekistan offers a new development model — from vulnerability to regional economic leadership. This is a challenge that has become an opportunity — and a powerful lesson for other landlocked developing nations.