Uzbekistan’s Tashkent Region is experiencing a manufacturing renaissance that reads like a modern industrial success story. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s September 11 strategic meeting unveiled ambitious plans that position this region as Central Asia’s emerging manufacturing powerhouse, creating unprecedented opportunities for international investors.
The numbers paint a picture of remarkable transformation: over the past eight years, the region has attracted $10 billion in regional investments and $8 billion in sectoral funding, spawning approximately 10,000 industrial, commercial, and service enterprises. This investment boom has created a thriving business ecosystem where companies with annual turnover exceeding 10 billion sums have multiplied 1.8 times to reach 1,700 enterprises, while businesses generating over 100 billion sums annually have grown from 137 to 193.
Chinese partnership drives industrial expansion
The region’s most significant development involves Chinese investors creating large-scale industrial parks worth $2.1 billion — a massive undertaking that signals growing international confidence in Uzbekistan’s manufacturing potential. These facilities represent more than just investment; they embody a strategic partnership that could reshape Central Asia’s industrial landscape.
Presidential decrees targeting accelerated regional development for 2025-2027 have allocated over 40 trillion sums, creating a comprehensive framework for sustained growth. This financial commitment aims to reduce unemployment and poverty levels to 4.5% by year-end while establishing the infrastructure necessary for large-scale manufacturing operations.
Strategic manufacturing projects take shape
The development strategy includes construction of two electrical substations to support foreign-invested industrial enterprises in Nurafshan, Almalyk, and Chirchik. Bekabad will house import-substituting auto parts manufacturing, while Akkurgan District will become home to textile industry enterprises. Along the Karasu Canal, flowing through Akhangaran, Angren, and Urtachirchik districts, tourism and commercial complexes are planned to create integrated economic zones.
The comprehensive investment portfolio totals $2.5 billion across various projects, promising employment for over 11,000 people while generating export potential worth $434 million. This strategic approach demonstrates how infrastructure development and manufacturing capacity can work in tandem to create sustainable economic growth.
Location advantage drives manufacturing appeal
Mirziyoyev emphasized the region’s unique competitive advantage: “Tashkent Region possesses the greatest potential in both industry and agriculture. Most importantly, it surrounds the capital, which is the country’s largest consumer market for goods and services. This is a huge opportunity. Using it to the fullest, we can multiply indicators for investment, exports, and job creation.”
This geographic positioning creates natural logistics advantages for manufacturers, offering immediate access to Uzbekistan’s primary consumer market while maintaining connectivity to broader Central Asian trade routes. The planned high-speed rail connections linking all Tashkent Region districts to the capital will further enhance this advantage, creating integrated economic zones where manufacturing, housing, and services can develop symbiotically.
For international companies in furniture, construction, and interior manufacturing, these developments represent a golden opportunity to establish operations in a rapidly growing market with strong government support, strategic location advantages, and increasing consumer demand. The combination of Chinese industrial expertise, Uzbek government commitment, and regional market access creates an compelling investment proposition for companies seeking to expand their Central Asian presence or establish cost-effective manufacturing bases serving both domestic and export markets.
