Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On the final day of the Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF), organized under the coordination of the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade, one of the key themes was the role of public-private partnerships (PPP) in attracting investment and modernizing Uzbekistan’s infrastructure.

During the session, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Ilkhom Umurzakov announced that as of 1 January 2025, Uzbekistan had signed PPP agreements worth approximately US$28 billion. Notably, around 90% of these projects are concentrated in the energy sector, primarily in renewable energy — underscoring the country’s strong commitment to sustainable development and economic decarbonization.

Anand Rohatgi, Chief Operating Officer at Synergy, highlighted the company’s significant progress in Uzbekistan, which began with its involvement in the country’s first PPP project in 2017. Today, Synergy’s Tashkent office is among the company’s largest, with a portfolio of over 30 consulting projects, 10 of which have already been successfully implemented.

Philippe de Costa, Strategy Director at TAQA Water Solutions, confirmed the growing maturity of Uzbekistan’s PPP governance. He noted that TAQA, through its subsidiary Masdar, has been active in the country for about six years and commended Uzbekistan for establishing a stable and predictable legal environment for private investors.

Enrico Pinali, Regional Head of Private Sector Development at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), emphasized the importance of institutional maturity and standardized procedures. He noted that ADB’s involvement from the early stages helped introduce model contract templates that now enable local authorities to manage PPP projects independently.

Ekaterina Miroshnik of the EBRD and Nasser Masud, Senior Advisor to the CEO of InterHealth Canada, discussed the potential for expanding investments in healthcare and social infrastructure. Mustafa Fahour, Chief Operating Officer at Plenary, added that investments in schools, hospitals, and student housing represent not just economic decisions, but strategic commitments to the country’s long-term sustainability.

Participants of the roundtable agreed that Uzbekistan is already demonstrating regional leadership in PPP development. Continued regulatory refinement, increased transparency, and investment incentives will further enhance the country’s attractiveness to global partners.