Uzbekistan's government is ready to establish a special economic zone (SEZ) tailored to American companies, offering them a familiar business environment. The head of the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade (MIIT), Laziz Kudratov, announced the plan at a business forum, Gazeta.uz reports.
«This should be a full-fledged business environment in which American companies feel comfortable. We intend to create conditions as close as possible to those American companies are accustomed to at home — an environment with clear rules, high-quality infrastructure, reliable utilities, simple administrative procedures, logistical accessibility, and direct support from the state,» the minister said.
Kudratov stressed that the planned SEZ should become a practical base for American investment, technology, and production in Central Asia. He named four of the most promising areas for expanding cooperation with the US: critical minerals, fertilizer production, pharmaceuticals, and the textile industry.
«Uzbekistan can become a strategic investment partner of the United States. Today, global supply chains are shifting. Companies and countries are looking for reliable partners and stable production sites. They need to secure access to raw materials and key industrial resources. And Uzbekistan can become such a partner for the US,» the head of MIIT explained.
In turn, the chairwoman of the American-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce, Carolyn Lamm, noted that American companies' interest in Uzbekistan is growing thanks to the republic's reforms and the strengthening of bilateral relations. While only a few companies were chamber members in 1993, today it counts more than 50 major American corporations.
Last year, new American investment in Uzbekistan exceeded $1 billion, and since the start of this year it has already topped $2 billion, Lamm emphasized.
Meanwhile, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting with the President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), John Jovanovic, and the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Ben Black.
The parties agreed to adopt a joint «roadmap» for financing strategic projects in high-tech sectors: energy, critical mineral extraction, digitalization, and the deployment of artificial intelligence. Mirziyoyev backed the DFC's proposal to create a joint investment platform for healthcare and infrastructure. The meeting underscored the need to move to the practical phase of implementing large-scale infrastructure projects, such as the construction of a new international airport in Tashkent and a modern medical complex in the Fergana region, as well as the launch of a digital bank, data centers, and dry ports. An agreement was reached with the EXIM Bank to accelerate energy modernization and expand export financing for Uzbek businesses.
The reception with the President of Uzbekistan and the American-Uzbek business forum were held as part of the Tashkent International Investment Forum, which takes place from June 16 to 18. As Kudratov noted, the largest delegation of American businesses in the history of bilateral relations arrived at TIIF this year — 193 company representatives from the US.
