Uzbekistan’s ambitious New Tashkent project has secured a major milestone with international and domestic investors committing substantial resources to transform the emerging city into a premier tourism destination. Following competitive auctions for 13 commercial development plots, investment agreements totaling $554 million have been signed, setting the stage for an extensive hospitality and dining infrastructure that promises to reshape the country’s tourism landscape.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed the comprehensive development plans on August 20, examining projects that will bring hotels, restaurants, and architecturally distinctive buildings to the new urban center. These facilities are designed not merely to provide premium services, but to establish New Tashkent as a significant tourism hub that could attract visitors from across the region and beyond.
Employment surge and economic impact
The construction phase alone will generate employment for 160,000 workers, while the long-term vision encompasses hundreds of thousands of permanent positions anchored in innovative technologies. This employment boom extends beyond hospitality, with plans for educational and medical clusters, IT service companies, and technology parks that will create a diversified economic ecosystem.
The scale of the undertaking becomes clear when considering the project’s timeline and scope. Construction of the new city adjacent to Uzbekistan’s capital began in 2023, with 19,700 hectares of land allocated across the Yukori-Chirchik and Urta-Chirchik districts of Tashkent region. British firm Cross Works developed the territorial development concept, and the first buildings have already emerged from the ground.
Sustainable urban planning meets modern infrastructure
The initial development phase covers 6,000 hectares designed to accommodate 600,000 residents, though the ultimate vision calls for a 2-million-person metropolitan area. Quality and durability drive infrastructure decisions, with underground utility corridors, thermal networks, electrical systems, and water supply lines being installed alongside tunnels and underground parking facilities.
Environmental sustainability features prominently in the urban design, with plans for clean transport integration connecting metro systems with electric buses. Pedestrian and cycling infrastructure receives equal attention, ensuring safe and comfortable conditions for non-motorized transportation. The administrative zone will house over 60 government buildings, with more than ten ministries and agencies already operating from temporary facilities within New Tashkent.
Strategic opportunities for international business
This development presents compelling opportunities for international companies across multiple sectors. Hospitality brands can establish flagship properties in a purpose-built tourism destination with government backing and modern infrastructure. Construction companies specializing in sustainable building techniques, smart city technologies, and large-scale urban development projects will find significant contract opportunities as the city expands.
The furniture and interior design sectors face particularly promising prospects, given the scale of hospitality, residential, and commercial spaces requiring outfitting. With hundreds of thousands of future residents and extensive hotel, restaurant, and office facilities planned, demand for quality furnishings, fixtures, and design services will be substantial and sustained. International suppliers of building materials, architectural services, and urban planning expertise can contribute to a project that combines scale, ambition, and long-term growth potential in Central Asia’s largest economy.
