Uzbekistan and Japan Discuss New Investment Projects and Expansion of Cooperation

The Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan reported that Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates held discussions on expanding cooperation and implementing investment projects during meetings held in Abu Dhabi.

The Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, participated in the Investopia Bridge 2026 forum and the UAE-Uzbekistan business round table titled 'Connecting Capital with Opportunities' on October 7 in Abu Dhabi.

During these events, the parties discussed opportunities to deepen interaction in several priority areas. These include energy, digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence, the financial sector, chemical industry, agriculture, tourism, transport and logistics, as well as development.

As part of his visit, Kudratov held a series of bilateral meetings with the UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, Abdullah bin Tuk Al Marri, the Minister of Investment, Mohammed Hassan Al Suwaidi, and the Minister of Foreign Trade, Tani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.

The head of the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade also spoke with leaders of major companies from the UAE. The parties reviewed prospects for further strengthening business ties and implementing planned projects.

Following the completion of the visit, further guidance was established for promoting projects involving state institutions, investment funds, and business representatives from Uzbekistan and the UAE.

A meeting of regional leaders from Uzbekistan and Russia was held in the Fergana region as part of the third session of the Regional Councils of Uzbekistan and Russia. The main goal of the meeting was to transition from reached agreements to the practical implementation of specific projects.

The event was attended by the governor of the Fergana region, Khayrullo Bozorov, the governor of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Mikhail Kotyukov, as well as heads of several regions from both countries. Participants discussed the development of interregional cooperation, the implementation of joint investment and cooperative projects, and the improvement of the effectiveness of interaction mechanisms within the Regional Councils.

Khayrullo Bozorov emphasized that the regions of the two countries possess significant economic and investment potential, as well as accumulated experience in cooperation and numerous concluded agreements. He noted that at this stage, the focus should be not only on demonstrating the capabilities of the regions but, above all, on their practical realization and achieving tangible results.

Special attention was paid to the development of the Regional Councils as a permanent mechanism for interaction, reducing the time between signing agreements at the level of regional leaders and the start of specific projects, as well as more effective use of existing opportunities for interregional partnership.

Leaders of the Russian regions stressed the need to expand direct contacts, more actively involve business representatives in joint initiatives, develop industrial cooperation, and implement mutually beneficial projects. Participants noted that there are necessary opportunities and mechanisms for further expanding interaction between the regions of both countries. Key priorities are the systematic fulfillment of reached agreements, turning promising initiatives into real projects, and accelerating their launch. At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to continue working on filling interregional cooperation with new practical projects and initiatives.

The Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, held talks with the advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan, Uno Yoshimasa, on October 5. The parties discussed the further development of strategic partnership between the two states.

Particular attention was paid to the implementation of agreements reached during the high-level visit in December 2025. Furthermore, the meeting participants reviewed opportunities to expand industrial cooperation and organize the production of high value-added goods.

In 2025, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Japan amounted to approximately 400 million US dollars. Since the beginning of 2026, bilateral trade turnover has increased by 11%, reaching 228.8 million US dollars.

The portfolio of joint projects with Japanese partners exceeds 12 billion US dollars. Currently, 144 enterprises with Japanese capital are operating in Uzbekistan.

A separate part of the negotiations was dedicated to implementing major projects in the fields of energy, transport, and infrastructure. The Japanese side also proposed strengthening cooperation within the framework of the 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' concept. This initiative aims to strengthen resilience, support economic development, and expand regional connectivity.