TASHKENT — Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev pledged to continue economic reforms and announced plans for a new tax- and customs-free financial zone during the Tashkent International Investment Forum on Wednesday, as the Central Asian nation seeks to attract more foreign investment and strengthen its position as a regional economic hub.
Speaking at the annual forum in the Uzbek capital, Mirziyoyev said the government would establish the Tashkent International Financial Center, which would operate under English common law and offer a range of incentives aimed at international investors. He also announced plans for an independent financial regulator to oversee the center and issue regulatory documents.
“We are always open to investors interested in cooperating with Uzbekistan and ready for an equal and mutually beneficial partnership,” Mirziyoyev told delegates in his opening address, according to remarks reported by Reuters.
The proposed financial center would exempt businesses from several major taxes and customs duties, while guaranteeing free movement of capital and the ability to conduct transactions in any currency, Mirziyoyev said. He added that the center would support financial technology, digital asset and green finance initiatives.
The announcement came during the fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum, held from June 16 to 19 and attended by government officials, investors, financial institutions and business leaders from dozens of countries, according to Uzbek government information released before the event.
Uzbekistan, the most populous country in Central Asia with nearly 40 million people, has pursued market-oriented reforms since Mirziyoyev took office in 2016. Those measures have included easing restrictions on currency exchange and reducing barriers to foreign investment, according to Reuters.
The country recorded economic growth of 7.7% in 2025, Reuters reported, citing official data. The economy has benefited from a growing population and strong gold prices, with Uzbekistan remaining one of the world’s significant gold producers.
In another step toward opening its economy, minority stakes in several state-owned companies were floated on the London Stock Exchange in May, marking the country’s largest initial public offering since 2021, according to Reuters.
The proposed financial center and regulatory framework have yet to be implemented. Uzbek authorities said further legislative and regulatory measures are expected as the government advances its investment and economic reform agenda.
