Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — At the ongoing Uzbekistan-China business forum in Samarkand, Zoir Mirzaev, khokim (Governor) of the Tashkent Region, delivered a report outlining key investment priorities for the metropolitan region’s economy.

He highlighted several sectors with significant growth potential and strong appeal for investors.

First, the pharmaceutical industry and production of medical equipment were emphasized — three specialized industrial zones in the region offer extensive opportunities for expansion in this field.

Special attention was also given to the construction materials industry, where demand is rising for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient products.

The textile industry remains one of the region’s traditional and promising sectors, supported by abundant raw cotton supplies and well-developed infrastructure.

Additionally, Mirzaev pointed to agricultural product processing as an area with considerable untapped potential, noting that only a small portion of the harvested volume currently undergoes deep processing, which opens broad avenues for investors.

There is also a noticeable gap in the electrical and household appliances sectors, with a shortage of domestically produced goods on the local market, representing a substantial investment opportunity. Finally, the tourism sector offers favorable conditions for new projects across various tourist zones in the region.

The forum brought together major companies and entrepreneurs from the Tashkent Region as well as delegations from China. During bilateral meetings in the afternoon, agreements were reached on cooperation in electrical engineering, construction materials manufacturing, and agricultural product processing and export.

Simultaneously, the second International Women’s Forum, titled “The Great Silk Road in Our Hands — Uzbekistan-China Cooperation in Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” was held, featuring businesswomen from the Tashkent Region.

For reference, currently about 900 enterprises with Chinese investment operate in the metropolitan area. The total Chinese investment amounts to approximately 6.4 billion USD, with nearly one billion USD in new investments attracted in 2024 alone.