President of Uzbekistan outlines new priorities for economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and the United States

On October 19, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the opening of the second meeting of the American-Uzbek Business and Investment Council.

The event was also attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Special Envoy Sergio Gor, and representatives of leading American companies and banks.

In his address, the President emphasized the symbolic significance of discussing new opportunities for cooperation between Uzbekistan and the United States in Samarkand, a city that has connected peoples, cultures and trade routes for centuries.

It was noted that relations between Uzbekistan and the United States have reached a fundamentally new level, largely thanks to the personal attention and support of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The need to expand economic ties based on a strong political partnership was emphasized.

The American-Uzbek Business and Investment Council plays a particularly important role in this process, making a significant contribution to advancing joint projects and initiatives.

The President highlighted the large-scale changes taking place in Uzbekistan: the economy is growing, new enterprises are opening, jobs are being created, and access to education is expanding for young people.

At the same time, further industrial development and modern infrastructure require investment alongside the introduction of advanced technologies and the transfer of knowledge and expertise.

In this context, the President highlighted Uzbekistan’s extensive experience working with American businesses. Hundreds of companies with U.S. capital operate in Uzbekistan, and cooperation spans industry, energy, transportation, agriculture, education, and new technologies. Uzbek companies are also beginning to invest in the U.S. economy.

Promising areas for expanding partnership include the extraction and advanced processing of critical minerals to produce high-tech products, the development of a modern and reliable energy system, the establishment of data centers, the introduction of artificial intelligence and digital solutions in industry, agriculture, education and public administration, as well as education and workforce training.

Extensive preparations were made for the current meeting of the Business and Investment Council. As a result, 54 agreements and promising initiatives worth approximately $12 billion have been developed. A comprehensive action plan will be developed to ensure implementation.

To improve the Council’s work, the importance of focusing efforts on three key priorities was emphasized.

The first priority is to create clear and predictable conditions for American businesses. Investors entering Uzbekistan should be able to start operating immediately without spending time on administrative procedures.

In this regard, the transition to a new “plug-and-play” model of working with investors was highlighted. Investors will be offered fully prepared projects, complete with ready-to-use sites, connected infrastructure, and all necessary permits and documentation.

Uzbek entrepreneurs can also participate as partners and share investment risks. A Direct Investment Fund has been established to support such projects.

The next priority is to jointly develop new sectors of the economy and major centers of industrial and technological growth.

Finally, the Council should become a strategic mechanism for long-term economic partnership between the two countries. In this regard, a proposal was made to develop a Trade, Investment and Technology Cooperation Program through 2035.

The Council should also serve as an effective platform for developing new initiatives, removing systemic barriers and advancing large-scale joint projects.