Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Within the framework of the 5th Anniversary Tashkent International Investment Forum, held in the capital under the coordination of the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, a special pitch session titled “Agribusiness and Food Security: Technology, Value Chains, and Export Growth” was held, dedicated to promising projects in the fields of agriculture and agro-industry. The event featured presentations of major agricultural projects in Uzbekistan in B2B and B2C formats.

During the dialogue with local and international investors, issues related to ensuring food security, introducing international standards into the industry, and significantly increasing export potential were discussed. The session was moderated by Konstantin Korneev, Executive Director of Rincon Agrotech.

Leading experts in the field of agriculture and the food industry, project initiators, and executives of agrotech companies participated in the pitch session:

• Tengiz Loloshvili — Partner and Chief Commercial Officer at QAND
• Dad Khan Temur Ali — Chief Digital Officer at Extrafos LLC
• Akram Talibov — CEO of Bemalol Group LLC
• Sherzod Niyazimbetov — CEO of Biogumus Farm and Tasty Food Company

The first part of the session focused on the development of a modern dairy farm and processing plant in Uzbekistan fully compliant with European standards. Laurent Gogelet-Desan, Director of International Franchising at Candia, a French leader in the production of ultra-heat-treated milk, announced the company’s confident entry into the Uzbek market. Within the framework of the project, it is planned to sign a major franchise agreement with Bemalol Group for the production of high-quality dairy products under the “Candia” brand.

In turn, Akram Tolibov, CEO of Bemalol Group, noted that the total cost of the project is estimated at 110 million euros.

“45 million euros of the investment will be directed directly to the farm, while the remaining 49 million euros will be allocated to a modern processing plant,” said Akram Tolibov. “As part of the project, 3,500 head of Holstein dairy cows will be imported from abroad. Our goal is to achieve an average milk yield of 30 liters per cow per day, and in the future, to reach even higher volumes in line with European standards.”

Also, Elizaveta Hattenville, representative of Sodiaal, emphasized the dynamic growth of Uzbekistan’s economy and the strong opportunities for the successful implementation of foreign innovations in the country.

Speaking at the event, Tengiz Loloshvili, Commercial Director and Partner of Qand, presented in detail the company’s premium chocolate brand, founded in 2017 in partnership with Saidakmal Vakhabov. The core idea of the project is to create an exclusive product for the global market by combining Uzbekistan’s rich dried fruits and nuts with high-quality chocolate from Belgium, France, and Switzerland. In the next 4–5 years, the company plans to increase turnover to USD 9–10 million and expand exports to the markets of the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Europe, and China.

Best practices in the cultivation of environmentally friendly products were also discussed. Sherzod Niyazimbetov, founder of Biogumus Farm, noted that organic sun-dried tomatoes are cultivated on 180 hectares in the Republic of Karakalpakstan without the use of chemical fertilizers, relying solely on biohumus and biological protection agents. It was also highlighted that the next strategic step is to establish export deliveries of 300 tons (approximately 3 million cans) of products per year in packaged form, ready for direct consumption rather than as raw materials.

Timur Ali, Development Director of Extrafos, a company launched with an investment of USD 20 million, focused on the application of modern fertilizers in agriculture. The plant, with an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons, specializes in the production of complex mineral fertilizers, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK). However, due to limited awareness among farmers regarding the use of complex fertilizers, only 3,000 tons are currently being sold on the domestic market. In this context, by organizing targeted training for farmers, the company plans to increase crop yields by 15–45% and expand exports to Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan.

Alongside this, Anvar Kaziev,  representative of one of the country’s largest projects — the international agricultural cluster “Jizzax organic” — briefed participants on the current status of the project. To date, 7,500 head of Angus and Hereford cattle imported from Australia and other countries, as well as 3,500 Dorper sheep, are being raised on an area of 12,000 hectares, with total investments exceeding USD 115 million. At present, practical work is underway with investors to launch a dairy farm for 7,200 dairy cows, along with a “carousel” milking system enabling the simultaneous milking of 100 cows.

In conclusion, international infrastructure and investments attracted to the country’s agricultural sector directly contribute to both the global economy and social well-being. As highlighted in the special video presented at the end of the session, since 2002, 18 companies have been launched on an international scale and are successfully operating in 36 countries. In particular, the provision of clean drinking water to 50 million households, the creation of a safe educational environment for 100,000 schoolchildren, and the implementation of waste management systems demonstrate the strong social impact of these investments.