Uzbekistan positions itself as regional financial and investment hub amid record economic growth
TASHKENT, Wednesday, June 10, 2026 (WNP): Uzbekistan is preparing to host the fifth edition of the Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF-2026) from June 16 to 19, with policymakers, global investors, development banks and corporate leaders set to gather in the Uzbek capital to explore new opportunities for investment, regional connectivity and economic cooperation.
Held under the theme “Investment Resilience: New Frontiers, New Partnerships,” this year’s forum will focus on strategies to protect capital amid global uncertainty, strengthen investment resilience in emerging markets and expand international partnerships in key sectors ranging from finance and infrastructure to energy and technology.
The event comes at a time when Uzbekistan is posting some of the strongest economic indicators in the region. According to official data, the country’s economy expanded by 7.7 percent in 2025, pushing gross domestic product above US$147 billion. International rating agencies Fitch Ratings and S&P Global recently upgraded Uzbekistan’s sovereign credit rating from BB- to BB, while Moody’s revised its outlook on the country to “positive.”
The country’s foreign exchange reserves have surpassed US$77 billion, exports rose by 24 percent to US$33.8 billion, and foreign direct investment increased by nearly 47 percent last year. Officials say annual foreign investment inflows have climbed from around US$4 billion in 2017 to approximately US$42 billion in 2025, reflecting growing international confidence in the country’s reform agenda.
The Tashkent International Investment Forum has emerged as one of Central Asia’s most influential economic platforms.
Last year’s forum attracted more than 8,000 participants, including around 3,000 international delegates from 97 countries. The gathering featured heads of state and government from Central Asia and Europe, senior executives from international financial institutions and leading investors. Investment and trade agreements worth US$30.5 billion were signed during the event.
The forum’s significance now extends beyond the volume of agreements announced, with increasing attention being paid to the successful implementation of projects and the conversion of investment commitments into operational assets.
A major highlight of TIIF-2026 will be the presentation of the newly established Tashkent International Financial Centre (TIFC), created by presidential decree in March 2026.
The centre is designed to operate under a special legal regime based on common-law principles and includes an independent financial services regulator, the Tashkent International Arbitration Centre (TIAC), and tax incentives extending through 2076.
Economic analysts view the TIFC as a significant step in Uzbekistan’s efforts to position itself as a regional financial gateway linking Central Asia with global capital markets.
A dedicated session during the forum will examine the conditions required to attract international investors and financial institutions to the new centre.
The forum’s programme is built around four major pillars: investment resilience and capital protection, financial infrastructure and capital market development, trade connectivity and logistics corridors, and energy transition and climate finance.
Key discussions will focus on the introduction of alternative investment funds, private equity and venture capital frameworks, sovereign credit ratings across Central Asia, blended finance mechanisms, and the development of transport corridors linking Europe and Asia through the Middle Corridor and Trans-Caspian routes.
A special legal and arbitration track will explore investment protection mechanisms, dispute resolution frameworks and Uzbekistan’s integration into international legal and commercial systems.
Energy cooperation is expected to be among the most closely watched topics at the forum.
Uzbekistan has set a target of generating 54 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The country currently operates solar and wind power projects with a combined capacity exceeding four gigawatts and plans to add a further 19 gigawatts of green energy capacity in the coming years.
Public-private partnership projects valued at approximately US$28 billion have already been signed, creating significant opportunities for international investors in the energy sector.
Experts say Uzbekistan’s standardized power purchase agreements and expanding renewable energy programme have positioned the country as one of the most attractive emerging energy markets in the region.
TIIF-2026 will also feature a series of bilateral business forums with countries including South Korea, the United States, Croatia, Hungary, Türkiye and Albania, alongside a China-SCO Countries Investment Dialogue.
The forum’s industrial and investment exhibition, spanning approximately 6,000 square meters, will showcase Uzbekistan’s manufacturing capabilities, infrastructure projects and investment opportunities.
Organizers expect hundreds of business-to-business and business-to-government meetings to take place during the four-day event.
International experts increasingly view Uzbekistan as one of the most dynamic emerging investment destinations in Eurasia.
The country’s ongoing economic liberalization, privatization programme, financial sector reforms and efforts to join the World Trade Organization have contributed to growing investor confidence.
The simultaneous launch of the Tashkent International Financial Centre, the adoption of a new alternative investment funds framework and recent sovereign rating upgrades have created a favorable environment for long-term investment.
For Uzbekistan, the Tashkent International Investment Forum has evolved beyond a traditional conference into a strategic instrument of economic policy.
Its success is increasingly measured not only by announcements and signing ceremonies but by the volume of capital deployed, projects implemented and partnerships created between successive editions.
As global investors seek new opportunities in emerging markets with improving institutional frameworks and strong growth prospects, TIIF-2026 is expected to further strengthen Uzbekistan’s position as a regional investment hub and a key gateway connecting Central Asia with international capital markets.
With participation from world leaders, development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds and multinational corporations, the anniversary edition of the forum is poised to reinforce Tashkent’s growing status as the investment capital of Central Asia.
