Latest news with #TashkentInternationalInvestmentForum
Arab News
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Uzbekistan keen to collaborate with Saudi Arabia on environmental protections: top official
RIYADH: Uzbekistan's cooperation with Saudi Arabia on ecology and environmental protection is steadily progressing, with the Central Asian nation aiming to deepen this partnership through the exchange of knowledge and innovation, a top official said. Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the Tashkent International Investment Forum, Uzbekistan's Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov said that the country wishes to collaborate with the Kingdom to develop effective solutions to issues including dust and sand storms. Saudi Arabia is spearheading climate action efforts across the Middle East, with ambitions to plant 10 billion trees, rehabilitate 40 million hectares of degraded land, and reduce carbon emissions by more than 278 million tonnes per year. 'Our cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the fields of ecology and environmental protection is dynamic and multifaceted. Through the Intergovernmental Commission between our two countries, we regularly exchange views on the current state and future prospects of collaboration between our environmental agencies,' said Abdukhakimov. He added: 'We plan to foster collaboration between our national parks and protected natural areas. Saudi Arabia has more than 70 such areas, covering about 18 percent of its territory.' The minister further said that such collaborations will allow the exchange of expertise in preserving unique ecosystems and rare species of flora and fauna. Abdukhakimov added that Uzbekistan's Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies is seeking to establish academic partnerships with institutions in the Kingdom, including King Saud University and King Abdulaziz University, for the exchange of scientific knowledge and innovations in the environmental field. 'Our cooperation is built on trust, mutual interest, and a shared responsibility for sustainable development and environmental protection in our regions,' said the minister. He also invited Saudi partners to participate in the international Eco Expo Central Asia exhibition to be held in Tashkent from June 19 to 21, as well as the 20th CITES COP20 Conference, which will take place in Samarkand from Nov. 24 to Dec. 5. Uzbekistan's environmental agenda During the interview, Abdukhakimov told Arab News that Uzbekistan is currently facing several severe environmental challenges, both globally and regionally, including climate change, desertification, and land degradation. 'These phenomena directly impact the country's sustainable development and require proactive government action. At the regional and national levels, the most pressing issues include water scarcity and pollution, air quality degradation, and the need to conserve and restore biodiversity,' he said. To address these challenges, the Uzbek government, under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is taking various measures, including a push for a green economy, a transition to environmentally friendly transportation, and the development of alternative and renewable energy sources. Saudi Arabia is also collaborating with Uzbekistan to advance its energy transition journey, which aims to generate 40 percent of its electricity from clean sources by the end of this decade. Saudi utility giant ACWA Power is the largest foreign player in Uzbekistan's energy sector, with the company already implementing 19 projects in the country worth a combined value of $5 billion. Out of these 19 initiatives, eight are focused on renewable energy, which is expected to support the Central Asian nation's goal to achieve 20 gigawatts of clean energy capacity by 2030. During the Tashkent Investment Forum, Abid Malik, president of ACWA Power for Central Asia, announced that Uzbekistan will commence producing green hydrogen this month, with an annual production capacity of 3,000 tonnes. In 2023, Mirziyoyev launched a pilot green hydrogen facility in the Tashkent Region in cooperation with ACWA Power. The $88 million project is being implemented in two phases, with production from the first phase expected to begin this month. During the forum, Soumendra Rout, ACWA Power's country head for Uzbekistan, said that the company is planning to invest $5 billion in the Central Asian nation as a part of its broader strategy aimed at increasing its total commitments in the country to $15 billion. Abdukhakimov added that Uzbekistan, through the nationwide project Yashil Makon 'Green Space,' aims to plant 200 million trees annually. Under the project, Uzbekistan has planted over 850 million tree and shrub seedlings over the past four years. 'Under the 'Uzbekistan – 2030' Strategy, one of the key priorities is to ensure a favorable environment for the population. The year 2025 has been declared the 'Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy,' underscoring the state's strong commitment to environmental priorities,' said the minister. Abdukhakimov further added that Uzbekistan is also strengthening institutions for environmental monitoring and control, with the country installing automated air pollution monitoring stations and expanding its meteorological network. 'These measures demonstrate Uzbekistan's systematic approach to solving environmental problems and its active engagement in the global environmental movement,' he added. Cooperation with regional partners According to Abdukhakimov, Uzbekistan, like other Central Asian nations, is located in one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions. He added that the average temperature in the region has risen by 1.5 degrees Celsius — twice the global average, while the area of glaciers has decreased by 30 percent in the last 50 to 60 years, resulting in water shortages, land degradation, and reduced crop yields. 'Central Asian countries share a common history, transboundary water resources and similar environmental threats — from desertification to increased vulnerability in agriculture. For this reason, Uzbekistan views cooperation as a key instrument in crafting a unified regional response to climate risks,' said the minister. To ensure regional cooperation, Uzbekistan also hosted the Samarkand Climate Forum in April, where the Regional Green Development Concept was presented. The minister said that this document serves as a foundation for shaping coordinated climate policy and strengthening regional solidarity in the face of global challenges. Uzbekistan is also actively engaged in numerous regional initiatives, including the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia, and the CAREC Program, as well as projects with the World Bank, OSCE, and UNESCO. Abdukhakimov further said that these initiatives will facilitate knowledge exchange, joint management of natural resources, and the mobilization of international funding. 'In short, Uzbekistan builds regional cooperation on climate issues on the principles of solidarity, mutual benefit, and synergy— firmly believing that only collective efforts can ensure a sustainable future for the entire region,' the minister said.
The Sun
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Wildberries plans to build a $150 million warehouse in Uzbekistan
TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 June 2025 – Wildberries, a leading e-commerce platform in Eurasia, plans to spend $150 million on building a flagship warehouse in Uzbekistan to bolster the infrastructure of the country's growing e-commerce market. The company will construct a warehouse spanning 180,000 square meters (1.9 million square feet) in the Tashkent region and has already identified a land plot for it, Robert Mirzoyan, CEO of the merged company Wildberries & Russ, said at the IV Tashkent International Investment Forum. Over the past two years, the sales volume of Uzbekistan-based sellers on the Wildberries platform exceeded USD 1 billion, according to Mirzoyan. Deliveries of Uzbek textiles to Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, and Kazakhstan via Wildberries doubled last year, and exports of Uzbek products to Russia — the company's largest market — grew by 63%. 'Our goals in Uzbekistan are to create a full-fledged e-commerce infrastructure through logistics and fintech, unlock the country's export potential and integrate Uzbek products into global trade chains,' said Mirzoyan. As part of its support for local sellers, Wildberries has partnered with Uzbekistan's National Agency for Prospective Projects on the launch of a 'Green Corridor' for exporters. This initiative will simplify cross-border sales for Uzbek entrepreneurs on Wildberries, which currently operates in 10 countries. During the Tashkent International Investment Forum, the company also announced the launch of its Growth Platformin Uzbekistan, an initiative aimed at supporting and scaling up small and medium-sized businesses. Entrepreneurs will gain access to Wildberries & Russ' advanced digital advertising tools, training programs in online sales, and the company's extensive infrastructure to successfully export their products to other markets. At the initial stage, the Growth Platform will engage approximately 100 Uzbek entrepreneurs selected in consultation with Uzbekistan's Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade. Participants include manufacturers of clothing, home textiles, footwear, bags, cosmetics, household chemicals, and appliances. The initiative is expected to expand to include more sellers in the future.
Qatar Tribune
17 hours ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Minister of State takes part in Tashkent Investment Forum
Tribune News Network Doha Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry HE Dr Ahmad bin Mohamed Al Sayed participated in the fourth edition of the Tashkent International Investment Forum, held in the Uzbek capital from June 10 to June 12. The event was attended by Shavkat Mirziyoyev, president of the Republic of Uzbekistan, alongside senior government officials, investors, and representatives of economic institutions from around the world. Qatar's participation in the forum reflects the growing depth of bilateral relations with the Republic of Uzbekistan and underscores a commitment to expanding avenues of cooperation in priority economic and investment sectors. On the sidelines of the forum, the minister of state held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with senior officials including Laziz Kudratov Shukratovich, minister of investment, industry and trade of Uzbekistan, Zavqizoda Zavqi Amin, minister of economic development and trade of Tajikistan and Elnur Aliyev, deputy minister of economy of Azerbaijan, as well as the chairman of the Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank. During the meetings, discussions focused on strengthening economic and investment cooperation and expanding partnerships in priority sectors in a manner that serves the mutual interests of all parties. As part of the visit, the minister of state toured the exhibition held alongside the forum, which spanned an area of approximately 6,000 square metres and featured around 90 companies representing more than 10 key sectors of the Uzbek economy including petrochemicals, retail, engineering, electrical equipment, construction materials, metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and others. The visit provided an opportunity to explore Uzbekistan's industrial and commercial potential and to examine promising avenues for partnership and collaboration between the two countries.
Qatar Tribune
18 hours ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar participates in Tashkent International Investment Forum
TASHKENT: The State of Qatar has participated in the fourth edition of the Tashkent International Investment Forum, being held in the Uzbek capital from June 10 to 12, in the presence of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan HE Shavkat Mirziyoyev, along with a number of senior officials, investors, and representatives of economic bodies from various countries around the world. The Qatari delegation to the forum was headed by Minister of State for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry HE Dr Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Sayed. The State of Qatar's participation in this forum underscores the deepening bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as Qatar's keenness to expand the horizons of joint cooperation in priority economic and investment sectors. On the sidelines of the forum, the Minister of State for Foreign Trade held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with a number of senior officials from participating countries. Among them were Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan HE Laziz Kudratov; Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan HE Zavqi Zavqizoda, and Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan HE Elnur Aliyev. During these meetings, the miister discussed ways to strengthen economic and investment cooperation and expand partnerships in priority sectors in a manner that serves mutual interests. As part of the visit, the minister toured the exhibition accompanying the forum, which covered an area of nearly 6,000 square meters and featured around 90 companies representing more than 10 key sectors of the Uzbek economy. These included petrochemicals, retail, engineering, electrical equipment, construction materials, metal industries, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and others. The visit provided an opportunity to explore Uzbekistan's commercial potential and investment opportunities, and to discuss prospects for partnership and cooperation between the two countries.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Plug Power Just Landed a $5.5B Hydrogen Deal--And It's Only Getting Started
Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) could be gearing up for one of its biggest green hydrogen wins yet. At the Tashkent International Investment Forum, Plug and Allied Green Ammonia just signed a deal to deploy 2 GW of electrolyzer capacity in Uzbekistana move that brings their global partnership to 5 GW across two continents. The Uzbekistan plant, backed by the country's government, aims to produce sustainable aviation fuel, green urea, and green diesel as part of a $5.5 billion green chemical complex. Both companies' top executives were on site to ink the agreement, signaling just how strategic this project could be for their long-term energy ambitions. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 8 Warning Signs with PLUG. This is the second major green hydrogen venture between the two. Allied Green's flagship project in Australia, with 3 GW of Plug's electrolyzers already lined up, is still tracking toward a final investment decision in Q4 2025. Taken together, these initiatives show Plug is more than just a tech supplierit's positioning itself as a go-to partner for decarbonization at scale. Sanjay Shrestha, Plug's President, emphasized the strategic alignment between the firms, pointing to the opportunity to expand into new regions beyond Australia and Central Asia. For investors watching the hydrogen space, this partnership could offer early clues about how industrial-scale electrolyzer deployments will unfold globally. Plug's tech is now in motion across five continents, supporting industries from transportation to chemicals. While execution risk always lingers in projects of this scale, repeat deals like this hint at momentumand possibly, a durable edge. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
