Uzbekistan pushes to become Central Asia’s financial and logistics hub

The fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum in 2026 highlighted Uzbekistan’s bid to attract capital with new financial rules, major infrastructure projects and deeper ties to global investors. Officials and business leaders said the country is trying to move beyond transit and raw materials toward a regional center for finance, logistics and digital growth. Why it matters: - Uzbekistan is trying to compete for investment on institutions, not just geography, resources or market size. - The shift could reshape Central Asia’s role in finance, logistics, trade and industrial development. - New infrastructure and financial rules may improve predictability for investors and support long-term capital flows. What happened: - The fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum ended in Tashkent with more than 8,300 registered participants. - More than 3,400 foreign delegates from 100 countries took part. - Participants included international financial institutions, governments, investment funds and global companies with combined assets of about $42 trillion. - The forum presented investment proposals worth about €75 billion in energy, transport, logistics, digital infrastructure and industrial development. - President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the Tashkent International Financial Center, a special financial center with tax and customs incentives, free movement of capital, settlements in any currency, an independent financial regulator and a legal framework based on English law. - A public-private partnership was signed for a new international airport in Tashkent. The details: - The Tashkent International Financial Center is designed as a separate financial jurisdiction in Tashkent. - The center is intended to attract capital and build long-term market trust. - The airport project will be carried out by an international consortium that includes Vision Invest of Saudi Arabia, Sojitz Corporation of Japan, Incheon International Airport Corporation of South Korea and Uzbekistan Airports. - Construction is scheduled for 2026–2030. - The airport is expected to handle up to 20 million passengers and 129,000 tonnes of cargo a year once operational. - Key forum topics included critical minerals, green energy, artificial intelligence, logistics, industrial cooperation, agribusiness, Islamic finance and regional infrastructure. - Discussion also focused on Central Asia’s transport links, including the Middle Corridor, the Trans-Afghan route and logistics projects connecting Asia and Europe. - More than 370 representatives of development banks and financial organizations attended. - The forum recorded strong participation from U.S. companies, with talks covering critical minerals, infrastructure, energy, artificial intelligence and digital technologies. - The event also included discussions on data centers, digital infrastructure, geological exploration, aviation and satellite communications. Between the lines: - Alona Lebedieva, owner of Aurum Group, said investor competition is now centered on legal predictability, capital protection and the ability to scale projects quickly. - Lebedieva said financial centers, capital markets, alternative financing and independent dispute resolution are becoming part of the region’s new investment architecture. - She said transport corridors alone do not create investment appeal without capacity, transparent customs, stable tariffs, digital services, financing and common rules. - The forum’s mix of finance, infrastructure and technology suggests Uzbekistan wants to position itself as more than a lower-cost production base or transit point. - Lebedieva said Central Asia is moving from being viewed mainly as a raw materials and transit region toward a broader economic offering that includes energy, critical materials, production, logistics, financial services and the digital economy. What’s next: - The Tashkent International Financial Center will need to translate incentives and legal promises into a functioning market structure. - The airport project now moves into a multi-year construction phase through 2030. - Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states will likely face pressure to improve regulation, governance and regional coordination to keep attracting capital. - Investors will watch whether the forum’s announced projects turn into deliverable infrastructure and credible institutions. The bottom line: - TIIF-2026 showed Uzbekistan is aiming for a bigger role: not just a place for deals, but a regional hub for finance, logistics and complex investment projects.