With the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Uzbekistan is preparing a project to establish a special economic zone based on Japanese models and standards, according to the presidential press service.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev recently met with representatives of leading Japanese companies in Tokyo as part of the business program of his official visit to Japan. The meeting brought together senior executives from major corporations, financial institutions and business associations, and was attended by Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ryosei Akazawa.
Among the participants were senior executives from companies and institutions including Sojitz, Sumitomo, Toyota, ITOCHU, Mitsubishi, Marubeni, Daito Trust Construction, NEC, SBI Holdings, Ajinomoto, Japan Tobacco, Hitachi, Mitsui, Eurus Energy, Chubu Electric Power, Shikoku Electric, Shimizu, JOGMEC, JBIC, JICA, NEXI, JETRO, ROTOBO, Norinchukin Bank and SBI Shinsei.
Addressing the meeting, Mirziyoyev noted that the strong turnout from Japanese business circles reflected a high level of mutual trust and sustained interest in deepening economic partnership.
It was highlighted that cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan has reached a new stage in recent years. While Japanese companies were previously mainly involved in contract-based projects, they are now investing directly in Uzbekistan’s economy, establishing joint ventures, participating in management, transferring technologies and contributing to workforce training.
As a result, Japan has become one of Uzbekistan’s key economic and technological partners. Over the past eight years, bilateral trade has doubled, while the number of Japanese enterprises operating in Uzbekistan has increased tenfold. Cooperation has expanded across energy, healthcare, geology, information technology and infrastructure.
The president outlined Uzbekistan’s development goals, noting that the country’s gross domestic product has doubled over the past eight years. By 2030, Uzbekistan aims to join the group of upper-middle-income countries.
Mirziyoyev invited Japanese businesses to take part in the modernization of the Uzbek economy, with a focus on accelerating industrialization, introducing advanced technologies, raising productivity and expanding exports.
Priority areas for cooperation include energy security and the green transition, development of renewable energy sources and storage systems, and reducing carbon intensity. He also highlighted opportunities in deep processing of critical minerals, mechanical engineering, industrial equipment, information technology, artificial intelligence and digitalization.
Concluding the meeting, the president stressed that Uzbekistan views Japan not only as an investor, but as a strategic partner in building future industries.
Representatives of Japanese companies expressed readiness to expand their presence in Uzbekistan and confirmed plans to participate in joint projects. The meeting concluded with an exchange of bilateral agreements in the presence of President Mirziyoyev and Minister Akazawa.
