Economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan is entering a new phase of development. The Uzbekistan–Japan Business Forum, held in Tashkent, was dedicated to expanding interaction in the fields of investment, industry, and technology. Representatives from state institutions, large companies, banks, financial institutions, and business associations took part in the event.
This forum was viewed as a tool for implementing agreements reached during the official visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Japan in December 2025. The main focus was on attracting capital and developing joint production projects. The parties discussed the introduction of high-tech manufacturing, the application of modern solutions, and the increase of production capacities.
Japanese businesses highly praised the reforms being implemented in the Uzbek economy, as well as the favorable environment created for entrepreneurs. These factors were noted as an important basis for further strengthening the existing partnership.
Currently, 14 out of 137 enterprises operating in Uzbekistan with Japanese capital are officially registered in the country. This figure indicates growing confidence of Japanese investors in the republic's market. Proposals for further expansion of the partnership through new projects were presented at the forum.
Trade and economic ties are also showing steady growth. By the end of 2025, the trade volume reached $375.3 million. Participants emphasized that the potential could be higher and noted the need to intensify cooperation in expanding product assortments, strengthening industrial cooperation, and entering new markets.
During the event, special attention was paid to promising projects in energy, geology, transport, healthcare, and education. Priority tasks were identified as technology localization, training qualified personnel, and creating joint production. The possibility of effectively utilizing the advanced experience of Japanese companies in engineering, digital solutions, and corporate governance was also discussed, setting the vector for future industrial cooperation.
At the conclusion of the business forum, the parties agreed to expand the scope of practical interaction. B2B and G2B meetings were held to develop new investment projects and strengthen financial partnership. Specialists stressed that these contacts will form a solid foundation for implementing new joint projects in the coming years, contributing to the strengthening of economic partnership between Uzbekistan and Japan.
Bukhara is becoming an increasingly attractive region not only due to its ancient historical and cultural heritage but also in the sphere of industry and investment. Thanks to large-scale reforms being carried out in the province, the creation of a favorable environment for investors, and the new level of international cooperation, leading global companies are showing significant interest in Bukhara.
One of the major partners that has shown interest is China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation (CPECC)—an influential engineering and construction company from China specializing in the oil and gas industry. CPECC is part of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). Founded in 1980, this company is recognized as one of the largest engineering and construction contractors in the oil and gas industry, with over forty years of experience. It regularly appears in international rankings as one of the 225 largest contracting organizations.
CPECC provides services covering the entire production cycle in the oil and gas sector. Its activities include the construction of large industrial facilities based on the EPC model (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction), engineering consulting, technological construction and installation, manufacturing of modern equipment, as well as facility operation and maintenance.
The company has been operating in Uzbekistan's energy sector for over ten years. During this period, CPECC has made a significant contribution to strengthening strategic partnership between the two countries by participating in the implementation of the country's most important energy projects. Among the implemented projects are the modernization of the oil refinery in Bukhara in cooperation with JSC Uzbekneftegaz, the construction of a main gas pipeline with a total length of 410 kilometers for the Kandim gas field, the construction of gas collection infrastructure at 53 well sites and 24 complex technological stations, the creation of ground facilities for gas condensate fields in the Bukhara region, and the construction of compressor stations and auxiliary facilities for the 'Central Asia – China' main gas pipeline in Uzbekistan.
Currently, the company is moving to a new important stage of its activities. Plans include establishing new production of modern technological equipment for the modernization of oil refineries and petrochemical complexes in the special industrial zone 'Bukhara Industrial Complex'. This will not only allow for the production of products that substitute imports but also create high value-added products, open new jobs, and increase the potential of local industry.
Discussions regarding this promising project took place between the Governor of the Bukhara region, Botir Zaripov, and the company's coordinator in Uzbekistan, Fan Ziyu. The meeting involved detailed discussions on the organizational, technical, and investment aspects of the project's implementation. The Governor emphasized that thanks to the country's open and pragmatic economic policy, a stable and reliable business environment has been formed in Bukhara for both local and foreign investors. He also provided detailed information about the tax and customs benefits offered to investors in the special industrial zone, as well as about the developed engineering and communication networks and convenient infrastructure, stating his readiness to provide comprehensive practical assistance in implementing this project.
The parties agreed to continue negotiations, prepare technical and economic documents, and advance the project to a practical stage.
An agreement was signed between the Atomic Energy Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Uzatom) and the Rosatom Technical Academy regarding cooperation in nuclear medicine and related fields.
The document was signed by Yuri Seleznev, Rector of the Rosatom Technical Academy, and Azim Ahmedkhojaev, Director of the Uzatom Agency. The main goal of the agreement is to develop the national infrastructure for nuclear medicine in Uzbekistan, train highly qualified personnel for the field, continuously improve the skills of specialists, and systematically establish the exchange of scientific and technical information.
Within the scope of cooperation, educational programs will be developed based on the national needs of Uzbekistan and other countries, as well as advanced international experience. This cooperation covers important areas such as the research and production of medical isotopes, radionuclide diagnostics and therapy, theranostics, radiation therapy, the creation, production, and clinical application of radiopharmaceuticals, as well as radiation safety.
Yuri Seleznev, Rector of the Rosatom Technical Academy, emphasized that the academy possesses extensive experience and unique competencies in nuclear technologies and their application outside of energy. He stated its readiness to offer its educational and scientific-methodological potential to train highly qualified specialists who can work with modern technologies compliant with international standards to develop nuclear medicine in Uzbekistan.
According to Azim Ahmedkhojaev, Director of the Uzatom Agency, developing nuclear medicine is one of the important ways to improve the healthcare system of Uzbekistan. He mentioned that the work on preparing a strategy for developing nuclear medicine has reached its final stage. This strategy is aimed at developing human resource capacity, improving the regulatory legal framework, introducing modern technologies, and strengthening the national infrastructure of the field.
Ahmedkhojaev stressed that this agreement is an important step in strengthening cooperation and implementing the defined tasks. It will not only expand cooperation in the field of education but also serve to form a comprehensive system for training and improving the skills of doctors, medical physicists, radiochemists, radiopharmacists, and engineering technical staff working in the field of nuclear medicine.
It should be noted that this agreement was signed during the 'Obninsk NEW' International Nuclear Industry Youth Forum held in the city of Obninsk, Russian Federation.
In recent years, the decentralization of state governance in Uzbekistan and the direct delivery of services to mahallas, as well as decision-making at the lowest level of society based on the principle of 'human dignity,' have become the main directions of systemic reforms.
The mahalla is no longer just a self-governing body; it has become a unique institution of civil society responsible for solving social problems of the population, supporting entrepreneurship, and defining the moral and legal environment of the region.
It is necessary to recognize the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted in December 2023, titled 'On measures to fundamentally enhance the role of the Mahalla institution in society and ensure its functioning as the first link in solving people's problems,' and the resolution 'On launching the activities of the Association of Uzbek Mahallas and taking additional measures to improve the governance system in mahallas' as an important step in perfecting the mahalla system.
Based on these documents, the previous 'mahalla council' composition was expanded, leading to the emergence of the 'mahalla seven-member' institution with the inclusion of a tax inspector and a social worker. This change is a profound renewal not only in number but also in substance.
Currently, the deputy mayor under the head of the mahalla, youth leaders, women activists, prevention and tax inspectors, and social workers work as a single team. This system allows for the coordination of areas such as social protection, poverty reduction, employment provision, and encouragement of economic activity based on the 'one-window' principle. At the same time, a legal and organizational basis has been created for state services to be provided to the population in an even easier, faster, and more convenient form.
As part of the ongoing reforms, 2026 has been declared the 'Year of Developing the Mahalla and Advancing Society.' Within this year's State Program, the practice of appointing 'seven-member' members from the local population or nearby areas in 500 mahallas is increasing the popular nature of the system. Furthermore, strict rules regarding the exemption of employees from unnecessary meetings and assignments are serving to increase the efficiency of their activities.
Today, the mahalla is a technologically equipped area. The 'Digital Mahalla' electronic platform integrates all links, from the mahalla head to the deputy mayor, into a single system. Through this platform, the population can submit their appeals online and monitor their execution in real-time. This system reduces bureaucracy while creating the possibility of objectively evaluating employee performance based on key performance indicators (KPIs), which increases the responsibility of each employee.
According to data from the Association of Uzbek Mahallas, many activities were carried out in 2025 in 8,992 mahallas with over 55 thousand 'seven-member' employees and nearly 1 million participants. In the scope of these activities, 2,090 (23%) mahallas were turned into unemployment-free areas. Additionally, poverty decreased sharply in 1,435 (16%) mahallas, and the crime rate was lowered and a safe environment was created in 4,388 (49%) mahallas.
It should be specifically emphasized that the work carried out to ensure the employment and social rehabilitation of 428 thousand migrants returning from abroad demonstrates what an important social force the mahalla is.
Another strategic direction of the reforms is the financial independence of the mahallas. Based on the presidential decree, 15% of the funds collected from property and land taxes will be directed to funds for solving the socio-economic problems of the mahalla directly. Increasing transparency in the use of mahalla funds and fully delegating decision-making authority to mahalla councils is set as a priority task in the 2026 Reforms Program.
