Sojitz to Invest US$1 Billion in Construction of New Airport in Tashkent

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Japanese trading and industrial conglomerate Sojitz Corporation plans to begin construction of a new international airport in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent.

The project, estimated at US$1 billion, will become part of Sojitz’s large-scale infrastructure investment program in Central Asia.

The initiative aims to boost passenger traffic and strengthen Uzbekistan’s economic ties with Western partners — a trend that has intensified amid the war in Ukraine and the growing reorientation of investments toward regional countries seeking deeper integration with the West.

Construction of the Tashkent airport will serve as a cornerstone of Sojitz’s strategy to expand its presence in Central Asia, including Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. In recent months, both nations have stepped up cooperation with Western governments and international corporations.

The new airport in Tashkent is designed to handle the increasing volume of passenger and cargo transportation, which is expected to support the growth of tourism and business, as well as the modernization of the country’s transport infrastructure.

Sojitz’s investment is also viewed as a contribution to the development of the Middle Corridor, a key transport route linking Central Asia with Western markets.

Other international partners have shown similar interest in this direction. In September 2025, the European Union announced an allocation of US$202.5 million under a program to support reforms and sustainable development in the South Caucasus region, part of which will fund transport and trade connectivity projects under the “Corridor of Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).”

The new Tashkent airport is expected to become a modern logistics and passenger hub playing a central role in strengthening connections between Central Asia and the West.

Implementation of the project will further solidify Uzbekistan’s position as a key player in global trade routes and accelerate its integration into international economic networks.