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Uzbekistan has proposed creating a special economic zone designed exclusively for American companies, with the government promising to replicate the regulatory and operational conditions that US firms expect at home. Investment, Industry and Trade Minister Laziz Kudratov announced the initiative on Monday at the US–Uzbekistan Business Forum, held alongside the Tashkent International Investment Forum.
Kudratov described the proposed zone not as a designated plot of land but as a fully formed business ecosystem, offering transparent regulations, high-quality infrastructure, uninterrupted utilities, simplified administrative procedures, strong logistics connectivity and direct state support. He invited both American and Uzbek companies to help shape the zone by proposing specific industries and projects, and said the government hopes to secure anchor investors during the initial formation stage.
Joint financing platform to launch at the forum
A joint investment platform to co-finance bilateral projects is also set to be formally launched during the forum. The platform follows preliminary agreements reached in February and will be funded jointly by American financial institutions and Uzbek investment funds. A dedicated website will set out project selection criteria and application procedures, according to Kudratov.
Four priority sectors
The minister identified critical minerals, fertiliser production, pharmaceuticals and textiles as the four sectors with the greatest potential for deeper bilateral cooperation.
In critical minerals, Kudratov said partnership frameworks with several US firms are already under way, covering not only extraction but also processing and supply chain integration. He cited Uzbekistan’s energy potential, raw material reserves and skilled workforce as competitive advantages the country can offer as global supply chains continue to shift.
On fertilisers, the minister pointed to Uzbekistan’s existing manufacturing and export capacity and highlighted opportunities to build advanced facilities capable of meeting growing regional and international demand. In pharmaceuticals, negotiations are ongoing over contract manufacturing arrangements that would draw on Uzbek production facilities already capable of meeting strict international quality standards. For textiles, Kudratov said the opportunity lies in moving beyond raw material processing toward high-value finished goods, design development, technical textiles and expanded exports.
Positioning within shifting supply chains
The announcements reflect a broader Uzbek strategy to present the country as a stable manufacturing hub and a secure source of raw materials at a moment when corporations and governments are actively diversifying away from concentrated supply chains. Kudratov framed the proposed American-focused zone as a vehicle for anchoring that positioning, with the United States as a primary target partner rather than one among many.
No timeline for the zone’s establishment or the total capitalisation of the joint investment platform was disclosed at the forum.