The Japanese corporation Sojitz, the Saudi Arabian investment company Vision Invest, and the South Korean corporation Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) have signed a 35-year concession agreement with the state-owned company Uzbekistan Airports. This agreement provides for the construction and operation of the new Tashkent International Airport.
This was reported by the Sojitz press service on July 31. The signing of the agreement took place in June 2026 during the Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF-2026).
According to Sojitz, the total investment in this project will exceed 370 billion Japanese yen, equivalent to approximately 2.5 billion US dollars. The launch of the new airport is scheduled for 2030.
The project aims to create the largest aviation hub in Central Asia, which will provide passenger and cargo transport, as well as logistics operations. The new airport's capacity is expected to reach 20 million passengers annually, which is about twice the current capacity of the capital's airport.
Sojitz noted that the airport development will be carried out by a consortium including Sojitz, Vision Invest, IIAC, and Uzbekistan Airports. The partners intend to combine their expertise in airport management to create a modern and safe aviation complex.
The company also plans to use its international network of partners to attract new airlines, expand the route network, and develop related business areas, including commercial services in terminals and ground handling of aircraft.
The corporation emphasized that Uzbekistan, with a population of about 37 million people, represents the largest market in Central Asia. According to the company, favorable conditions for implementing the project are being created due to population growth, an increase in foreign direct investment inflow, and the implementation of the Uzbekistan-2030 strategy, which provides for infrastructure development and aviation industry reforms through public-private partnership mechanisms.
Sojitz also reported that it has been operating in Uzbekistan since the 1990s and is currently involved in the implementation of several large infrastructure projects. These include the construction of the Syrdarya II thermal power plant with a capacity of 1.6 GW, a wind power plant with a capacity of 1 GW in Navoi region, and a multi-purpose hospital with 800 beds in Samarkand region.
In the company's opinion, the implementation of the new international airport project will form the basis for the further expansion of its investment activities in Uzbekistan and contribute to the country's sustainable socio-economic development.
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.
The construction of a new toll highway connecting Tashkent and Samarkand has been entrusted to the Chinese firm China Overseas Engineering Construction. The Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan, Ilhom Makhamov, discussed the role of this contractor and the two-stage project implementation scheme in an interview with the 'Uzbekistan 24' channel.
According to the head of the Ministry of Transport, the realization of this project is divided into two consecutive stages. In the initial stage, the Chinese company is obliged to fully construct and hand over the road. The second stage will begin only after construction is completed and will involve finding a partner to manage the highway as a toll route.
Once the new road is put into operation, drivers will have the option to independently determine their route, having the choice between using the toll highway or continuing along existing roads. The six-lane highway, which is 282 kilometers long, will pass through the Tashkent, Syrdarya, Jizzakh, and Samarkand regions. The project also includes the construction of over 30 bridges and other engineering structures.
Sherzod Boltayev, head of the Department of the Committee on Automobile Roads, specified that at least half of all materials used in the construction will be local resources. It should be noted that on July 22, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev officially launched the construction of this highway, which has a total cost of 2.2 billion dollars. This project is expected to have a positive impact on the economy by allowing a reduction in freight transport costs by 20–24% and increasing the gross regional product in the affected regions by approximately 3%.
The air cargo terminal in Tashkent is undergoing significant changes due to the rapid development of e-commerce and its strategic location as a logistics hub. Operations at this facility adhere to high international standards, especially in the handling of dangerous goods, and staffing needs are met through a transparent recruitment process.
The terminal plays a critically important role as a transit point between Europe and Asia, which stimulates its development and requires the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects to meet growing demand. The new cargo terminal began operating in March 2025, responding to the rapid growth in freight volumes.
Previously, the cargo complex, which operated from 1994 to 2000, had a design capacity of 30 thousand tons of cargo and mail annually. However, according to 2024 results, 79,910 tons of cargo and mail passed through it, nearly triple the planned throughput and confirming the need to update the cargo base.
The total area of the cargo complex is 5.2 hectares. It includes a three-story administrative building with an area of 3,000 square meters, a warehouse complex measuring 8,500 square meters, and cold and freezer chambers totaling 500 square meters. Additionally, parking for passenger and freight transport is provided.
The warehouses are equipped with special zones for storing various categories of goods, including plants, live animals, medicines, foodstuffs, and valuable items. All these premises are equipped with modern temperature control systems. Modern packaging, racking, material handling equipment, as well as automation, accounting, and security systems compliant with global standards have been acquired for the terminal's operation.
The design capacity of the new terminal reaches 120 thousand tons of cargo and mail per year, four times the capacity of the old complex. By the end of 2025, 88,080 tons of cargo and mail were processed here. Forecasts indicate that this figure will rise to 92 thousand tons in 2026. In the first half of the current year, the terminal processed 48,189,606 kilograms of cargo and mail, which is 33.2% more than in the same period last year, or 12,023,812 kilograms more.
The handling of specific goods, particularly dangerous ones, is strictly regulated by protocols. Special, approved conditions are maintained at the facility for storing such materials, ensuring safety at all stages. Staff training is a fundamental element of the operation and covers all employees involved in the cargo process, including drivers.
Umid Khamraev, Head of the Cargo Transport Department of Tashkent International Airport, emphasized that 'there are specially written rules and conditions for storing dangerous goods.' The focus on safety is reinforced by mandatory certification: every employee dealing with hazardous materials must possess the appropriate qualification obtained from accredited training centers following established norms.
According to Khamraev, 'every employee has their own certificates for handling and working with dangerous goods.' The department head also noted that despite the apparent simplicity of the process, it is complex work requiring compliance with numerous strict requirements: 'all of this seems very simple at first glance, but in reality, it is a very big job, and there are serious requirements.'
To ensure staffing for growing operations, Uzbekistan airports have implemented a centralized and clear personnel selection system. All open vacancies in republican airports are published on a single specialized portal for potential applicants.
The process begins with an online application, making it accessible to all interested parties. Candidates can apply for any suitable vacancy through the official HR website. As representatives explained, 'for us everything is quite simple and transparent.' After submitting an application, HR departments conduct the selection, ensuring the effective and fair hiring of qualified specialists. They note that 'if the candidate is worthy, we accept them without hesitation. And believe me, this is practiced here. We have a transparent recruitment process.'
Significant changes in the structure of transported goods are due to the explosive growth of online shopping after the COVID-19 pandemic. The volume of goods arriving from major e-commerce platforms is increasing at unprecedented rates. Today, almost the entire spectrum of air cargo passes through the cargo terminal.
Since the beginning of 2026, 1,179 tons of agricultural products have been sent for export. In the import direction, 15,147 tons of general cargo, 4,689 tons of perishable goods, and 1,198 tons of live animals have been processed. These figures demonstrate the wide range of goods and the terminal's ability to handle shipments requiring special storage and transportation regimes.
Platforms like Uzum, AliExpress, and Temu play a key role in this trend, as consumers increasingly make online purchases, acquiring a wide range of goods—from electronics to clothing. Warehouse representatives confirm the rapid growth of such shipments. Innovative logistics solutions, such as the 'Truck to Air' program, have been introduced to manage this flow. According to Umid Khamraev, goods from AliExpress and other platforms are delivered by trucks from China to Uzbekistan, and then sent by plane to Europe and Asia.
The Tashkent cargo terminal serves not only as a final destination but also as a vital transfer and transit hub for international freight. The current infrastructure is designed to handle large volumes, with a cargo capacity of 120,000 tons per year. Daily, the terminal processes between 400 and 500 tons of diverse cargo, depending on seasonal demand.
Nazim Shaimardanov, Head of Cargo Transportation Organization at Tashkent International Airport, emphasized that the facility is 'our Tashkent cargo hub,' fulfilling both transfer and transit functions. Uzbekistan's geographical location provides a huge advantage, forming a natural bridge between two continents, making Tashkent a convenient route for goods moving between Europe and Asia.
The rapid growth in demand for transit services is the main driver for developing new infrastructure, including new terminals and the airport itself. As part of the expansion, construction continues on two additional covered hangars with a total area of 6,042 square meters: 4,950 sq. m is designated for import cargo, and 1,092 sq. m for export cargo. The introduction of these facilities will increase process efficiency, boost throughput, and protect cargo from bad weather. The principle of 'demand creates supply' defines the future of Uzbekistan's air cargo, strengthening its position in world trade.
