From June 10 to 12, 2025, the Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) is taking place at the CAEx Exhibition Palace in Tashkent under the coordination of the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan. On the first day, June 10, the Forum featured a dynamic lineup of panel discussions and sessions covering a wide array of topics—from digital transformation and industrial growth to sustainable finance, creative industries, and EU–Central Asia cooperation.

A key highlight of Day 1 was the panel discussion “EU–Central Asia Partnership: The Road from the Samarkand Summit,” which explored expanding investment ties between the European Union and Central Asia, with a strong emphasis on Uzbekistan. Steffen Richter of REE Linde praised Uzbekistan’s progress in attracting foreign direct investment. David Monguzzi from the European Investment Bank announced the upcoming opening of a regional office in Uzbekistan—an outcome of the April 2025 Samarkand Summit. 

EU Ambassador Toivo Klaar described this phase as a “qualitative shift” in regional ties, underpinned by reform-driven improvements. Business leaders from EDF and Suez emphasized the importance of regional energy connectivity and workforce development. EDF's Pierre-Paul Antoniessen highlighted energy collaboration between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, while Suez CEO Paul Burdion spoke on building human capital in water management. The session underscored a new chapter in EU–Central Asia strategic cooperation, emphasizing implementation, sustainability, and integration.

In the session “Industry: Unlocking New Potential,” panelists examined Uzbekistan’s growing industrial base, focusing on the automotive, electrical engineering, and industrial machinery sectors. Giuseppe Collino from Boston Consulting Group noted how new market entrants are redefining production standards, especially in automotive software. 

Ivan Cao, Managing Director of BYD Central Asia, highlighted BYD’s fast-track growth in Uzbekistan—producing over 10,000 electric vehicles and launching seven models. He noted Uzbekistan’s emergence as a regional automotive hub. Oybek Burkhanov from CNH Industrial spoke on the country’s value-added production capacity, and Jovanka Porsche, Chair of Global Neighbours, announced a China–Germany investment train project through Central Asia, which will host conferences on innovation and trade. The discussion reflected growing international interest in Uzbekistan’s modernizing industrial landscape.

The session “Shariah-Compliant SME On-Funding via Approved Financial Instruments: Catalyzing Growth in Uzbekistan” explored ethical finance as a tool for SME development. Moderated by Bahrom Numanov, Chairman of the Islamic Finance Association of Uzbekistan, the session introduced the Economic Empowerment Fund of Uzbekistan (EEFU)—a $100mn initiative backed by the Islamic Development Bank Group, Saudi Fund for Development, and Uzbekistan’s Fund for Reconstruction and Development. Speakers including Jan Cherim (SEAF) and Ali Khan (IsDB) emphasized the central role of SMEs in innovation and rural development. 

Soumendra Rout of ACWA Power shared that his company has invested $5bn in 19 Uzbek projects and will soon sign another $5bn agreement. He emphasized that Shariah-compliant finance offers stronger support for SMEs and pledged to share ACWA Power’s experience to foster inclusive growth. The panel reflected the potential of Islamic finance in promoting financial equity, sustainability, and private sector inclusion.

Another notable session, “Creative Economy: From Cultural Heritage to Investment Future,” showcased how Uzbekistan’s creative sectors are becoming engines of economic growth. Diana Campbell, Artistic Director of the upcoming Bukhara Biennale, highlighted the power of art in transforming local economies and boosting tourism. She noted international interest in Uzbekistan’s cultural scene even before the biennale was launched. 

Sara Raza, Artistic Director of the Center for Contemporary Arts in Tashkent, emphasized the importance of creating a full creative ecosystem that includes educators, architects, and marketers. Plans were announced for an academic partnership with Westminster International University to introduce a master's program in creative fields. The session illustrated Uzbekistan’s strategy to use its cultural assets to attract investment, promote job creation, and strengthen national identity through the creative economy.

In the session “Catalyzing Innovation: Venture Capital in Central Eurasia’s Digital Transformation,” panelists explored the growing role of venture capital in shaping the region’s tech future. Moderated by Sardor Mukhammadaliev, founder of Biz Network, the session featured stakeholders from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and beyond. 

They noted that venture capital deal volume in Central Asia reached $95mn in 2024, up 7% from the previous year. Davron Parmonov of AloqaVentures announced the expansion of Startup Garage to the U.S., designed to help Central Asian startups access global markets. Robin Butler of Sturgeon Capital praised Uzbekistan’s reforms since 2018, which have shifted the country from hardware dependency to tech innovation. The session emphasized the rising influence of AI, angel investing, and regional cooperation in building a globally competitive tech ecosystem.

The panel titled “Textile Production and Investment in the Clothing Industry and Supply Chain” highlighted Uzbekistan’s ambitions to become a global textile powerhouse. Moderated by Jamil Maksudi of Oqsaroy Group, the session included speakers such as Mansurjon Rasulev (Investment Promotion Agency of Uzbekistan), JaeYong Park (Youngone Corporation), Muzaffar Razakov (Global Textile), and Akmal Primkulov (Wildberries Uzbekistan). 

They emphasized investment in chemical fiber technology, digital transformation, and e-commerce as key enablers of growth. Primkulov highlighted how digital platforms are opening new export markets, while Park encouraged deeper R&D to boost competitiveness. Rasulev pointed to Uzbekistan’s rapid investment growth—from $3bn in 2017 to $35bn in 2024—and called the country's upcoming WTO accession by 2026 a historic opportunity for textile investors. The session underscored the merging of tradition and innovation in Uzbekistan’s textile sector.

Finally, the session “Green Development Model of New Uzbekistan: The Role of Renewable Energy in Addressing Environmental Challenges,” was held on Day 2 but contributed to the larger narrative of TIIF’s focus on sustainable growth. Moderated by Igor Alekseev of BCG, it featured energy leaders including Wu Gang (Goldwind), Hussein Al-Nowais (AMEA Power), Yves Barlier (EDF Renewables), Abid Malik (ACWA Power), and Rafael Barreau (Masdar). 

They discussed Uzbekistan’s goal of training 50,000 energy professionals by 2035, and ACWA Power’s upcoming green hydrogen project—the first in Central Asia. Over the past five years, Uzbekistan has attracted nearly $20bn in foreign investment in renewable energy and launched 9.6 GW in solar, wind, and storage systems. Al-Nowais emphasized the importance of legislative frameworks for investment, while others praised the government's reform agenda and proactive investor engagement. The session confirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to building a green, innovative, and investor-friendly future.

Additionally, Uzbekistan's Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade, Laziz Kudratov, took part in the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding with the OPEC Fund for International Development, outlining plans for $500mn in financial cooperation to support private sector development in Uzbekistan from 2025 to 2030.

Since the start of their partnership in 2000, Uzbekistan and the OPEC Fund have implemented 16 projects totaling $374.95mn across key sectors such as industry, infrastructure, energy, irrigation, and education. Currently, eight additional projects worth $292.41mn are being carried out in the areas of water supply, energy, infrastructure, and private sector support.

Overall, Day 1 of the Tashkent International Investment Forum 2025 delivered a strong message of progress, reform, and opportunity. From clean energy to creative industries and advanced manufacturing, Uzbekistan is positioning itself as a key investment hub in Central Eurasia—with bold plans and a global outlook.

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