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

The Uzbek-German Political and Economic Dialogue was held within the framework of the 5th Anniversary Tashkent International Investment Forum. The event focused on further strengthening the strategic economic partnership between the two countries, expanding mutual investment, and advancing joint projects in mining and critical minerals, mechanical engineering, the chemical industry, and pharmaceuticals.

The dialogue brought together representatives of Germany’s leading industrial, energy, financial, and technology companies, including Siemens Energy, Linde, Henkel, Knauf, Papenburg, Volkswagen, Deutsche Kabel, CLAAS, KfW IPEX-Bank, Deutsche Bank, ODDO BHF, and Landesbank.

The event was moderated by Eduard Kinsbrunner, Head of the German Business Association for Central Asia, who emphasized the importance of developing bilateral relations amid the current geopolitical environment.

Addressing the participants, Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, noted that political and economic relations between Uzbekistan and Germany continue to develop at a high level. According to him, both sides are actively working to strengthen existing cooperation and expand partnership into new areas.

“We have successfully reached the milestone of one billion dollars in bilateral trade. However, we are confident that through joint efforts we can achieve even greater results. Today, more than 230 German companies are operating and investing in Uzbekistan, and we are grateful for their contribution to the development of our economy,” said Laziz Kudratov.

In his remarks, the Minister highlighted human capital development, particularly the training of highly qualified IT specialists, as one of Uzbekistan’s key priorities. He noted that a large-scale initiative aimed at training one million programmers is currently being implemented across the country. The steady development and successful performance of the IT Park ecosystem further demonstrate Uzbekistan’s strong potential in advancing the digital economy.

Kudratov also invited German companies to engage more actively with Uzbekistan’s IT community and young professionals, stressing that the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade stands ready to provide comprehensive support for such cooperation. He emphasized that international partners, including German businesses and institutions, will play a vital role in Uzbekistan’s future economic development and technological transformation.

Stefan Rouenhoff, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, then addressed the audience. He noted that it was his first participation in the Tashkent International Investment Forum and praised the event’s high level of organization.

Rouenhoff highly appreciated the efforts of the Government of Uzbekistan to attract advanced technologies and know-how while modernizing the economy. According to him, Uzbekistan’s path of economic transformation deserves recognition, as the country is creating new market opportunities for international business. He stressed that a solid foundation is being built for long-term cooperation between Germany and Uzbekistan and underscored the importance of effectively utilizing existing opportunities and accelerating joint projects.

The next part of the dialogue featured a panel session titled “Industry, Innovation and Skilled Workforce: What Opportunities and Conditions Can Be Created to Take Uzbek-German Cooperation to a New Level?”

Moderated by Eduard Kinsbrunner, the discussion included Shikhnazar Sharofaddinov, Deputy Director of the Agency for Vocational Education; Wolfgang Niedermark, Member of the Executive Board of the Federation of German Industries (BDI); Doniyor Karimov, Head of the Training Center of Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine (AMMC); and Thomas Awsiuk, Managing Director of HansaFlex Connect GmbH & Co. KG.

The final session focused on “Raw Materials and Logistics: Prospects for Strengthening Transport and Logistics Links Between Central Asia and Europe and Advancing Strategic Projects.”

Participants included Vladimir Nikitenko, Regional Director of the German Eastern Business Association; Timur Khikmatullayev, Special Representative for Global Integration to the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Uzmetkombinat JSC; Niko Warbanoff, CEO of DB Engineering & Consulting GmbH and DB E.C.O. Group; Bekhzod Kholmatov, Director of the Center for the Study of Transport and Logistics Issues; and Belgin Rudack, CEO of KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH. They exchanged views on developing transport corridors between Central Asia and Europe, modernizing logistics infrastructure, and strengthening interregional economic connectivity.

The Uzbek-German Political and Economic Dialogue once again confirmed the steady development of the strategic partnership between the two countries. Discussions focused on deepening cooperation in key areas such as investment, industrial cooperation, human capital development, digital technologies, logistics, and transport infrastructure.

Participants highly praised Uzbekistan’s economic reforms and investment attractiveness, expressing their readiness to expand bilateral trade and investment, increase the number of joint projects, and strengthen long-term economic cooperation through effective utilization of existing opportunities.