Uzbekistan identifies 4 key areas for attracting IFI investment

Uzbekistan has identified four key areas for attracting investment from international financial institutions (IFIs), Khurram Teshabayev, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, said during the plenary session "Eurasia 2030+: Investments, Growth, and New Opportunities" at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Annual Meeting and Business Forum, Report informs.

He noted that international financial institutions not only provide access to capital but also introduce international standards, technologies, and management solutions necessary for the implementation of large-scale interregional projects.

"We see four promising areas for attracting investment, where the EDB's participation can play a particularly important role," Teshabayev noted.

He identified the development of transport connectivity between countries in the region as the first area.

"This is a capital-intensive sector open to joint financing. We consider it important for the EDB to participate in strategic projects, including the construction of the Trans-Afghan Transport Corridor, which will provide the shortest possible access for countries in the region to the markets of South Asia, as well as the development of the Middle Corridor and the North-South route. These areas form the basis of interregional trade," the deputy minister emphasized.

The second priority is the development of industrial cooperation and the creation of value chains, he said.

"We are interested in investments that facilitate the creation of joint ventures with high added value. Among the priorities are the advanced processing of raw materials, the localization of production, and the development of new regional production chains," he noted.

The third area is the green economy and sustainable energy.

"This area has already proven its investment appeal. Projects in renewable energy, energy storage systems, and the modernization of power grid infrastructure remain a priority," said Teshabayev. The fourth priority is the digital economy and artificial intelligence, he noted.

"We are attracting investment in digital infrastructure, data centers, and technology platforms as part of the national artificial intelligence development strategy. We see particular potential in cross-border e-commerce, the implementation of AI technologies, and training personnel for the digital economy," he added.