The event brought together representatives from more than 100 countries, heads of international organizations, members of the diplomatic corps, investors, manufacturers of eco-friendly products, eco-innovators, as well as representatives of government agencies and the expert community.

The official opening of the exhibition began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ceremony was attended by Aziz Abdukhakimov, Adviser to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Ecology and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change; Inger Andersen, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); and Grethel Aguilar, Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In his remarks, Aziz Abdukhakimov emphasized that “Eco Expo Central Asia” should become an effective platform for building practical partnerships, developing environmentally focused projects attractive for investment, launching new joint initiatives, and strengthening long-term international cooperation.

As part of “Eco Expo Central Asia 2026”, more than 50 side events, forums and presentations are being held, focusing on green energy, waste recycling, water resources management, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development.

Held in Tashkent in 2025, “Eco Expo Central Asia 2025” was the first major environmental exhibition of its kind in Central Asia. It brought together nearly 7,500 participants and served as a platform for launching more than 130 environmental projects in cooperation with international partners.

In 2026, the exhibition is entering a new stage of development. Nearly 10,000 local and international participants are expected to attend. The exhibition features more than 68 pavilions showcasing environmental products and services, as well as 20 startup platforms for eco-innovators from Central Asia.

In particular, the stand of the Waste Management Agency, organized as part of the exhibition, has attracted significant attention from local and international participants since the very first day. The stand, which demonstrates Uzbekistan’s approach to treating waste as a resource, has become a focal point for a number of meetings and discussions.