A round table meeting between Uzbekistan and France was held in Tashkent on July 9, 2026, dedicated to the development of trade, economic, and investment cooperation. The event gathered representatives from Uzbek state bodies and seventeen French companies.
The meeting brought together the Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade Laziz Kudratov, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Sherzod Ozodzod, Presidential Advisor on Fuel and Energy Complex issues Bekhzod Normatov, as well as Claude Imoven, Chairman of the Franco-Uzbek Business Council under MEDEF International. Participants noted that relations between Uzbekistan and France have reached the level of strategic partnership.
According to available data, bilateral trade turnover reached 1.4 billion US dollars in 2025. From January to May 2026, this turnover amounted to 775 million US dollars, demonstrating a 150% growth compared to the same period last year.
During the round table, the parties discussed expanding practical interaction and implementing joint investment initiatives. Key areas of cooperation mentioned include energy projects with EDF totaling 2 billion US dollars, an industrial project by Orano in Navoi valued at 600 million US dollars, and solar and wind energy development projects from Voltalia amounting to 325 million US dollars.
It was noted that MEDEF International is one of the leading French platforms for establishing international trade, technological cooperation, and long-term investment ties in foreign markets.
The Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan, Yurabek Mirzamakhmudov, held a meeting with Claude Imoven, Chairman of the Franco-Uzbek Business Council under the international organization MEDEF, as well as with Walid Fouque, the French Ambassador to Uzbekistan.
The participants in the negotiations discussed further strengthening strategic cooperation between the countries, expanding interaction in the energy sector, and implementing new investment initiatives. It was noted that the visit of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to France and the candid dialogue between the leaders of the two states helped bring bilateral cooperation to a qualitatively new level.
The participants also emphasized the importance of the recent visit of the Head of the Presidential Administration, Saida Mirziyoyeva, to France and her meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. In their assessment, contacts at high and top levels create favorable conditions for expanding business cooperation and promoting new investment projects, including those in the energy sector.
According to the Ministry of Energy, three large energy projects are currently being implemented in Uzbekistan with a total value of 2 billion US dollars involving French companies. Furthermore, work is underway on another six promising projects with a total value of 1.8 billion US dollars. Thus, the total portfolio of joint initiatives in the energy industry exceeds 4 billion US dollars.
Particular attention during the meeting was paid to cooperation with the company EDF. Projects for the construction of modern combined-cycle gas turbine power plants with a total capacity of over 3.1 GW are being implemented in the Syrdarya and Surkhandarya regions. The launch of these facilities should contribute to increasing electricity generation efficiency, strengthening energy security, and ensuring reliable energy supply.
The parties also noted the contribution of TotalEnergies and Voltalia to the development of renewable energy in Uzbekistan. These French companies are involved in the implementation of projects for building solar and wind power plants, as well as energy storage systems.
Representatives of French firms presented technologies, investment proposals, and initiatives for launching new projects. Prospects for modernizing energy infrastructure, constructing new generating capacities, main electrical grids and energy storage systems, improving industrial and gas transport infrastructure, increasing energy efficiency, implementing digital solutions, as well as cooperation in personnel training and experience exchange were discussed. At the end of the negotiations, the participants confirmed their intention to steadily increase investment cooperation, implement modern technologies, and jointly realize new projects in the energy sphere.
The Uzbek-Georgian business council held its regular meeting in Tbilisi on July 1, 2026, ahead of the visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Georgia.
Participants focused on opportunities to expand trade and economic interaction, develop industrial cooperation, and implement new investment projects. Present were Odilkhon Rustamov, Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, Giorgi Pertaya, President of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as representatives of leading business circles from both countries.
The main focus was on strengthening direct ties between entrepreneurs, increasing mutual trade, and developing joint investment initiatives. The sides noted a positive dynamic in bilateral economic cooperation.
Meanwhile, the volume of mutual trade increased from 89 million US dollars in 2017 to 267.6 million US dollars by the end of 2025. Uzbekistan's exports to Georgia amounted to 77.2 million US dollars of this total, while imports from Georgia reached 190.4 million US dollars.
According to both sides, more effective use of the free trade regime, as well as potential in the field of transport and logistics, will allow for the growth of mutual trade turnover to 1 billion US dollars in the future.
The meeting also considered opportunities to launch joint projects in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, electrical engineering, and chemical industry, construction material production, agricultural product processing, textiles, winemaking, as well as in the field of transport and logistics. A separate part of the program was dedicated to B2B meetings, where business representatives discussed promising areas, established new contacts, and concluded practical agreements.
After the meeting concluded, the sides reaffirmed their intention to intensify interaction between the business communities of Uzbekistan and Georgia, support joint investment projects, and consistently develop cooperation within the framework of the Uzbek-Georgian Business Council.
The First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Bahromjon Aloev, held talks in Muscat on July 1, 2026, with Salim Ali Sayabi, Chairman of the Omani company Alsiyabi International Group LLC.
The parties discussed specific proposals to strengthen cooperation in the fields of construction, tourism, infrastructure, and the establishment of medical facilities.
During the meeting, the issue of the Omani company's participation in the implementation of major urban development projects in Uzbekistan was also considered. The introduction of modern engineering and construction solutions, the development of tourist infrastructure, and the formation of partnerships in real estate development were discussed.
