TASHKENT, Uzbekistan(Mekhrangiz Nazarillaeva) – Uzbekistan will host the fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum from June 16 to 18, 2026, bringing together heads of state, finance ministers, sovereign investors, corporate executives and development partners under the banner “Investment Resilience: New Frontiers, New Partnerships.”
More than 2,000 delegates are expected to attend the three day gathering, which organisers say will be one of the largest investment and economic events in Central Asia. The forum aims to showcase Uzbekistan’s growing role as a regional hub for investment, trade, innovation and sustainable development.
The President of Uzbekistan will deliver the opening address on June 17 alongside high level guests from more than 20 countries. The plenary session is expected to set the tone for discussions on regulatory reform, privatisation and the country’s push to become a Central Asian investment hub.
Among the delegates are former presidents Kolinda Grabar Kitarović of Croatia and Katalin Novák of Hungary, as well as Romania’s former foreign minister Ramona Mănescu. Leading financial institutions including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Asian Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation and the European Investment Bank have confirmed senior representation.
A dedicated energy track will examine Uzbekistan’s target of 40 per cent renewables by 2030, underpinned by a 12 gigawatt solar and wind pipeline, a nascent nuclear programme and green hydrogen potential. Speakers include Masdar chief executive Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Acwa Power chief executive Samir Serhan and Uzbekistan’s energy minister Jurabek Mirzamahmudov.
On critical minerals, a panel featuring the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and McKinsey senior partner Yermolai Solzhenitsyn will explore how resource rich economies can move from raw extraction to value added processing. The Trans Caspian International Transport Route, known as the Middle Corridor, will be scrutinised as a strategic alternative amid global trade fragmentation.
A key announcement will be the official positioning of the Tashkent International Financial Centre. Frankfurt Main Finance senior adviser Hubertus Väth will moderate a panel with BlackRock, the Qatar Financial Centre and Franklin Templeton on what makes a financial centre globally competitive. Islamic finance features prominently, with the deputy chairman of Uzbekistan’s central bank, Sanjar Nosirov, and IMAN chief executive Rustam Rahmatov discussing sukuk structures to channel Gulf capital into emerging market infrastructure. Blended finance and political risk insurance will be addressed by the EBRD, SACE and AKA Bank.
The inaugural working session of the Regional Alliance of Investment Councils of Central Asia and the Caucasus will take place on the pre opening day, June 16. Founding members from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Georgia and Uzbekistan will sign a memorandum and align a 2026 to 2027 roadmap. The EBRD and the Asian Development Bank have supported the initiative.
The programme includes dedicated business forums with the United States, South Korea, Türkiye, Germany, Saudi Arabia and China, reflecting Uzbekistan’s efforts to strengthen economic ties with strategic partners and attract foreign direct investment. Digital transformation will also feature prominently on the agenda, with sessions examining artificial intelligence, digital governance, cybersecurity, fintech ecosystems and the future of technology driven investment.
An exhibition spanning approximately 6,000 square metres at the CAEx Centre will showcase investment opportunities and flagship projects across more than ten sectors of Uzbekistan’s economy, including petrochemicals, engineering, pharmaceuticals and food processing. The forum will also address corporate governance, dispute resolution, women’s entrepreneurship, tourism development and creative industries.
Alongside the formal programme, participants will take part in networking events including business breakfasts hosted by the Foreign Investors Council in partnership with Acwa Power and EY, a Silk Road Night Run, an ESG award ceremony and a Stihia festival rave at the Tashkent Railway Museum. Shuttle services to the Centre of Islamic Civilization will be available throughout the forum.
Organisers say the forum will reinforce Uzbekistan’s position as a leading investment destination in Central Asia and provide a platform for forging new partnerships in an increasingly interconnected global economy. The event will be held across multiple venues including the CAEx Centre, JW Marriott, Hyatt Regency and Hilton Tashkent City.
