Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has called for accelerating construction in New Tashkent during an open dialogue with investors and entrepreneurs focused on speeding up the development of the new city.
The president said proposals raised during meetings over the past month had been reviewed, along with problems related to land allocation, permits and payments.
The project, launched three years ago, has received substantial public funding for infrastructure and major facilities, including a stadium, university and library. More than US$2 billion has been invested in New Tashkent to date. However, Mirziyoyev noted that private-sector participation in construction remained below its potential.
A total of 20,000 hectares has been allocated for the new city. During the first phase, projects worth US$50 billion are planned across 6,000 hectares. Including the construction of a new airport, the area’s investment potential could reach US$200 billion.
Construction is currently under way on more than 1,000 hectares, primarily using public funds. Entrepreneurs, meanwhile, have been allocated only 94 hectares.
“New Tashkent is not simply an area where new residential buildings are being constructed,” the president said.
He said the city should become an independent economic centre attracting modern businesses, educational and medical institutions, tourist facilities and service providers. At present, however, two-thirds of the allocated land is designated for residential projects.
Active construction has yet to begin on 28 plots allocated to investors. Mirziyoyev said this should not be attributed to a lack of funding or willingness to invest. Instead, projects have been held back by outdated requirements, lengthy permitting procedures and government agencies that act more as inspectors than partners.
“Investors will not wait. If they do not feel supported and secure, they will direct their funds to another market,” he said.
The president called for a review of the entire process, from allocating land to entrepreneurs to launching their projects.
Demand for land in New Tashkent is nevertheless rising. In 2024, the average price per hectare was below 10 billion soums; it has now increased to 19 billion soums.
By the end of the year, 20,000 apartments are expected to be completed in New Tashkent, creating a new living environment for at least 70,000 people. Mirziyoyev stressed that residents would also need recreational areas, sports facilities, shops, educational institutions and medical services.
A 55,000-seat stadium meeting FIFA requirements is under construction in New Tashkent. Next year, it will be one of the main venues for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The president instructed officials to calculate the expected demand for hotels, cafes, restaurants and entertainment venues among visiting fans and to make the figures available to entrepreneurs.
The relocation of government agencies will also play an important role in establishing the city’s business life. The ministries of construction, transport and energy currently operate in lightweight buildings. Construction is also under way on nine buildings intended to accommodate 2,600 employees of ministries and other government agencies.
The prime minister was instructed to begin relocating the remaining ministries and state organisations to New Tashkent. If necessary, the government will consider selling their existing buildings in the capital, provided they undergo current repairs and are used without demolition or new construction.
Mirziyoyev said the New Tashkent master plan had been developed to create a modern, comfortable city but should not obstruct investor initiatives. Proposals to change a plot’s area or the type of facility should be supported if the original project serves the city’s interests.
The necessary legal mechanisms are already in place, but the process for reviewing proposals remains complicated and insufficiently transparent, with some decisions taking months. Officials were instructed to review investors’ proposals promptly using clear criteria.
Interest in the St Petersburg Quarter is strong because its concept, design documentation and construction permit are already in place. The project directorate was instructed to increase the number of developments ready for implementation.
New Tashkent also needs major commercial facilities that can become landmarks. Of the 54 plots sold so far, only three have projects valued at more than US$100 million.
To attract new initiatives, land plots will be allocated through an open-proposal process based on the Swiss Challenge principle. An initiative will be publicly announced, and the original proposer will receive the plot unless another participant offers more favourable terms.
Infrastructure fees will be revised to encourage the construction of service-sector and social infrastructure facilities. Mirziyoyev said the financial burden should not be the same for residential construction as for hotels or shopping centres that meet the city’s needs.
The basic infrastructure fee rates will be reduced threefold for shopping, service and business centres; fivefold for hotels and tourist facilities; and tenfold for cultural and entertainment venues.
Private kindergartens, schools and hospitals will pay a fee set at 1%. The new rules will also apply to projects whose construction has already begun.
A fast-track approval procedure will be introduced for unique projects designed by leading international architects. Design, construction and commissioning processes will be accelerated, and repeated requests for the same information will be discontinued.
The president reiterated that New Tashkent should become a genuine green city. Green building standards are being applied to projects there, but obtaining the relevant certification creates additional costs for businesses.
The government will fully reimburse the cost of green certification for non-residential buildings valued at more than US$50 million.
The requirement for investors to turn 30% of each acquired plot into green space will also be waived for projects in New Tashkent. The government will ensure that 30% of the city’s overall territory is green space in line with the master plan.
A new approach will be introduced for major investors. Each project worth more than US$50 million will have a designated representative to support the investor and help resolve issues until the facility is commissioned.
The government will also introduce the principle of “one investment agreement for each project worth more than US$50 million”. The agreement will set out the investor’s obligations and risks and specify the relevant package of incentives.
To ensure that opportunities are available beyond the capital’s business community, 100 hectares in New Tashkent have been allocated to each district of Tashkent. District governors are expected to work with local entrepreneurs to attract new projects to these areas.
Another 100 hectares will be allocated to each of the country’s 13 other regions. Investments made in these areas will count towards the performance indicators of the respective region or Tashkent district.
Only entrepreneurs from the relevant region or district will be eligible to participate in the first land auction for their designated areas.
Mirziyoyev said New Tashkent should become a platform for new opportunities for entrepreneurs from across the country.
Foreign investors have also shown strong interest in the project. The first 50 land plots have been identified for them. Ambassadors will be presented with specific proposals detailing plot locations, investment opportunities, financial calculations and new incentives.
Foreign diplomatic missions have been instructed to more actively inform investors about the opportunities available in New Tashkent.
Ministers have also been tasked with presenting the city’s investment opportunities at every meeting with foreign partners and major companies and inviting them to implement joint projects.
The president stressed that the announced opportunities must not remain on paper. Investors should receive ready-to-implement proposals specifying land plots, financial calculations and project timelines.
Mirziyoyev also recalled that construction of the Shirin residential development in Samarkand began on the same day as the New Tashkent project, but progress there remains slow. Entrepreneurs have received only 19 hectares, while the remaining land remains vacant.
A bridge intended to connect the development with the city centre was scheduled to open by 1 September. Meanwhile, the relocation of the regional governor’s administration and departments has yet to begin.
The president noted that the lack of activity by government agencies themselves affects entrepreneurs’ investment decisions.
In response, the incentives and opportunities announced for New Tashkent will also be extended to the Shirin development. Investors there must likewise be offered concrete projects and favourable conditions for doing business.
During the meeting, Mirziyoyev opposed dividing investors into “foreign” and “local” categories.
“Capital, advanced ideas and honest work have no nationality!” he said, proposing a new philosophy for Uzbekistan’s economy under the slogan “O‘Z”.
“O‘Z” stands for Uzbekistan, change, identity and responsibility. Everyone who invests in the country, introduces modern technologies and creates jobs contributes to its overall development, regardless of which country or city they come from.
“Anyone who builds New Tashkent or Shirin together with us becomes truly one of our own!” the president said.
He added that investors’ property and businesses would be protected by law, the state and the president personally.
Mirziyoyev then met with investors and said the proposals raised during the dialogue would be considered and followed by appropriate decisions in the near future. He also announced that he would return to New Tashkent in a month to check on the implementation of his instructions.
Concluding the meeting, the president called on investors and entrepreneurs to unite around a new slogan: “Your Idea! Your Investment! Your Future! New Uzbekistan, New Tashkent — They Are Ours!”
The president expressed confidence that New Tashkent would become home to numerous unique projects of national significance.
