Delegations from Tashkent and Kabul held discussions on prospects for interaction in the fields of city management, infrastructure development, urbanization, and investment. This meeting took place in Kabul as part of the Uzbek-Afghan business forum.
The delegation from Tashkent was headed by Deputy Hokim Sharof Rakhmanov, while the Afghan side was represented by the Deputy Mayor of Kabul, Mohammad Asif Jalalzay. Officials from Kabul reported that an investment portfolio has been formed, including 234 projects, 168 of which relate to the construction sector.
The Afghan side also presented information on projects related to road and canal construction, the development of public transport stops, improving the urban environment, waste management, urban construction regulation, and the implementation of digital management systems.
The Kabul side expressed a desire to study Tashkent's experience, as well as conduct seminars and master classes with the participation of specialized experts. Furthermore, they are interested in cooperating with companies from Tashkent operating in the fields of utilities and infrastructure.
Representatives of the Tashkent hokimiyat stated their readiness to review in detail the projects presented by Kabul, noting that the capital's companies possess the necessary experience and expertise in the specified areas. The sides separately discussed opportunities for partnership through public-private initiatives, the development of transport and utility infrastructure, and the implementation of reconstruction projects.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Kabul delegations received an invitation to visit Tashkent to familiarize themselves with the implemented projects and the practical experience of the capital.
The regions of Tashkent and Turkistan signed an interregional agreement during the first meeting of the Council of Heads of Regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan, which took place in Aktau.
The event was attended by the governor of the Tashkent region, Zoyir Mirzaev, who presented a report. Participants noted that this first meeting of the Council was a practical result of the good-neighborliness and mutually beneficial cooperation policy pursued by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Participants emphasized that the strategic partnership and allied relations between the two states have reached a qualitatively new level in recent years. Interregional interaction is actively expanding, covering trade, investment, industry, agriculture, transport and logistics, tourism, as well as cultural and humanitarian exchange.
Within the framework of the forum, governors Zoyir Mirzaev and Nuralkhan Kusherov of the Turkistan region signed a document aimed at deepening interregional interaction. It was noted that the delegation from the Turkistan region had previously visited the Tashkent region, after which the parties reached agreements on a wide range of areas of cooperation.
The signed document provides for strengthening ties between the regions, implementing joint projects, developing contacts between business communities, and promoting the improvement of the population's well-being.
According to the results of the first half of 2026, Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, demonstrated the highest rates of economic growth among all regions of the country. This success was achieved through attracting a record volume of foreign investment, significant export growth, and the creation of about ten thousand new jobs.
According to information provided by the city administration's press service, Tashkent's gross territorial product reached 226 trillion soums. This exceeds the figure for the same period last year by 13.3%, allowing the capital to surpass the projected figure of 11.2% and secure its leadership position in the republic.
The industrial sector also showed a positive trend: the volume of produced goods amounted to 109.6 trillion soums, which is 8% more than the previous year. However, the main driver of growth was investment. In the first six months, $4.3 billion in foreign investment and loans were brought into Tashkent's economy, which is one and a half times the volume of the previous year.
Thanks to the funds received, 249 investment projects were launched in the capital. New production facilities with a total value of $657.5 million were commissioned under these projects, contributing to the creation of 9.8 thousand jobs. Additionally, exports from Tashkent enterprises exceeded $1.5 billion over six months, which is 43% more than the previous year.
The localization program is actively promoted, within which 77 projects with a production volume of 4.9 trillion soums have been implemented, which is 48% higher than planned. Such initiatives help reduce imports, making products more affordable, and also strengthen cooperation between enterprises. The Hokimiyat considers the creation of jobs, the launch of modern production, the improvement of the population's living standards, and the development of the capital's industrial potential as key achievements.
It should be noted that World Bank analysts believe that due to reforms being carried out in logistics, tourism, and pharmaceuticals, Uzbekistan is capable of attracting between $5.2 and $6.4 billion in private investment and providing employment for over 300 thousand people.
The Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, met with Ryuichi Kizumi, CEO of the Japanese architectural and engineering company Nikken Sekkei. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss cooperation opportunities in the fields of architectural design and urban development.
The main focus of the negotiations was on the application of modern engineering solutions in the implementation of investment projects in Uzbekistan. The parties noted the significant potential of using the experience of the Japanese company to develop the design of social and transport infrastructure.
Representatives of Nikken Sekkei confirmed their readiness to participate in creating architectural concepts for public, transport, and social facilities, as well as to provide support in transferring advanced design technologies. At the end of the meeting, the participants agreed to maintain close interaction and jointly develop specific proposals for projects.
