5th Tashkent In'l Investment Forum attracts global investors seeking large-scale projects

The fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum, which ran from Tuesday to Thursday in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, has brought together thousands of delegates, investors and government officials from more than 100 countries to foster tighter regional connectivity and deeper economic cooperation.

As Uzbekistan quickly becomes one of Central Asia's most attractive investment hubs, global investors and business leaders are exploring new partnerships and signing agreements for future cooperation at the annual forum.

Some are hopeful that the deals forged at the gathering will fundamentally improve Uzbekistan's economic foundation, reshaping everyday transactions and access to finance.

"The majority of retail was happening on street bazars and people were very under-serviced in terms of your convenient digital products, in terms of digital banking. We are here to change the life and the consumer behavior," said Nikolay Seleznev, co-founder of Uzum, a leading fintech and e-commerce provider in Uzbekistan.

In 2025, Uzbekistan attracted 43.1 billion U.S. dollars in foreign investment, a 24-percent increase over the previous year. China was Ukraine's largest investor in the year, with total scale reaching 15.5 billion U.S. dollars.

Chinese companies are also expanding across key sectors, including automotive manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, and renewables.

"We are not talking only about large-scale projects. We are also seeing growing interest from Chinese small and medium-sized businesses that are actively entering the Uzbek market. The visa-free regime we introduced for Chinese citizens has certainly helped accelerate this process and encouraged greater investment activity," said Uzbek Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov.

International organizations are also actively engaged in Uzbekistan, supporting a wide range of social, economic, and infrastructure projects.

"We have been active in this region for decades now. Just in Uzbekistan, we invest just short of a billion euros every year in infrastructure, in the financial sector, in the corporate sector. It has been a growing and very successful investment climate for us," said Francis Malige, Managing Director of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Uzbekistan is steadily moving beyond a resource-based economy, positioning itself not merely as a supplier of raw materials, but as a reliable and equal partner for global investors, according to officials.

"When we talk about the countries of Central Asia, today it is one of the most peaceful and stable regions, serving as a bridge between the West, the East, the North, and the South, enabling mutual connectivity and exchange," said Abdulla Abdukadirov, Acting Director of the Agency for Strategic Development and Reforms under the President of Uzbekistan.

5th Tashkent In'l Investment Forum attracts global investors seeking large-scale projects

Emergency measures are being put in place to help urban areas across China cope with sweltering daytime temperatures as a severe heatwave grips multiple regions of the country, with local community rest stations being set up to shield residents and provide much-needed respite to outdoor workers amid the scorching weather.

Large swathes of the country are baking as the summer heat takes hold. According to the Central Meteorological Observatory of China, eight of the top ten hottest areas nationwide on Wednesday were in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where Turpan and Toksun both recorded temperatures above 44.5 degrees Celsius.

The intense heat is unlikely to let up anytime soon, as Hami Meteorological Station has issued a red alert and is forecasting that temperatures in Hami City will exceed 40 degrees Celsius from Wednesday to Sunday.

In an effort to combat the heatwave, the local sanitation department has deployed multiple sprinkler and spray trucks to cover major roads in downtown Hami to help with dust suppression and road surface cooling, while upping the frequency of operations.

Persistent high temperatures have also affected many areas in the southwestern Sichuan Province, with some weather stations recording maximum highs exceeding 42 degrees Celsius and weather alerts being issued in numerous cities.

In Guang'an City, the mercury had already soared to 38 degrees Celsius by 10:00 Wednesday morning, pointing to a long, hot day ahead.

However, the county has opened nearly 350 'rest stations' to help local people escape the heat. These air-conditioned cooling points, equipped with fans, drinking water, emergency medicines, and seating, provide much-needed rest areas for outdoor workers such as delivery drivers and couriers, as well as to the elderly and other passersby.

"This round of high temperatures is characterized by its long duration, high temperatures, and the oppressive, muggy conditions, impacting outdoor workers and the elderly the most," said Yu Jilin, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group at the Wusheng County Federation of Trade Unions.

In the neighboring Chongqing Municipality, a red alert for high temperatures was issued on the same day.

At the exit of a busy highway in Wuxi County, heat waves shimmered on the road surface amid heavy traffic. Police officers on duty were busy checking vehicles under the scorching sun, focusing on any potential safety hazards in passenger and freight vehicles, while enduring the sizzling weather themselves.

"The main issue is the high temperature -- surface temperatures can reach over 50 degrees Celsius. Whenever we are on duty, the exhaust from passing fuel-powered vehicles feels scorching hot against our bodies," said Lin Xianyong, an auxiliary police officer.

Air-conditioned "rest stations" set up to provide respite as scorching heatwave grips China