Uzbekistan and Japan are forming a long-term investment agenda

**Uzbekistan and Japan build a long-term investment agenda**

On September 9, Tashkent hosted the 18th joint meeting of the Uzbek-Japanese and Japanese-Uzbek Economic Cooperation Committees, where the parties discussed the progress of joint investment projects and outlined promising areas of bilateral cooperation.

The meeting was co-chaired by the Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, and the Chairman of the Japanese-Uzbek Committee, Senior Advisor to the President of Mitsubishi Corporation, Masayuki Tanimoto.

The event was attended by the State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Kenji Yamada, the Ambassador of Japan to Uzbekistan, Kenji Hirata, representatives of relevant government agencies, financial institutions, business associations, and companies. The Japanese delegation included more than 130 participants, including representatives of major corporations and development organizations.

### From a project portfolio to practical implementation

The growing interest of Japanese business is linked to the agreements reached in December 2025 during the "Central Asia + Japan" summit and the state visit. Following these events, a portfolio of 75 projects with a total value of $12 billion was formed.

At the current stage, the parties focused on the consistent implementation of the agreements reached and translating the established portfolio into practical terms.

One of the factors creating conditions for further cooperation was the dynamics of Uzbekistan's economy. In 2025, the country's GDP grew by 7.7%, and in the first half of 2026, economic growth reached 8.5%.

### Priority sectors

The parties identified a number of areas that could form the basis of further investment cooperation. These include energy, the chemical industry, mechanical engineering, critical minerals, healthcare, and information technology.

The main focus is planned on modernizing production facilities, localizing product manufacturing, deep processing of raw materials, digitalizing enterprises, and expanding the presence of companies in foreign markets.

The participants also discussed the conditions necessary for a faster launch of sector-specific projects. In particular, they discussed expanding non-sovereign financing opportunities and establishing a special economic zone.

It is expected that the combination of financial instruments, prepared production sites, and infrastructure will open up additional opportunities for Japanese investors.

### Japanese business and the digital economy

A separate discussion block was dedicated to the digital sector. More than 20 Japanese companies are already operating as residents of IT Park Uzbekistan.

At the same time, Uzbekistan's export of IT services exceeded $1 billion. According to the meeting participants, the existing foundation creates opportunities for the further development of outsourcing, the promotion of Uzbek digital solutions in the Japanese market, and the implementation of technological projects.

The practical part of the meeting included presentations by representatives of relevant departments of Uzbekistan, Japanese companies, educational, and financial organizations.

During the discussions, issues of industrial cooperation, digital transformation, mineral resource development, personnel training, and business support mechanisms were considered. This format made it possible to match the needs of individual industries with the technological solutions and competencies of potential Japanese partners.

### Signing of documents and business negotiations

Following the meeting, a ceremony for signing bilateral documents was held.

Afterward, representatives of companies from both countries held direct negotiations and business meetings. These were aimed at coordinating further steps on joint projects, as well as establishing new business contacts.