ASTANA, October 19. /Dunyo IA/.  Kazakhstan’s online publication “Infozakon” has published an analytical article by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms examining the dynamics of Uzbekistan–U.S. relations and the prospects for the “C5+1” format ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Samarkand, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Article cites data showing that Uzbekistan–U.S. trade turnover increased 4.7-fold between 2017 and 2025, reaching $810.4 million in the first eight months of 2026, up 33.4% year on year. Total foreign direct investment and loans attracted from the United States over 2017–2025 exceeded $2.9 billion, while 377 enterprises with American capital are currently operating in Uzbekistan. Article also highlights the admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange of global depositary receipts of the Uzbekistan National Investment Fund (UzNIF), managed by “Franklin Templeton”.

Article identifies the U.S.–Uzbekistan Business and Investment Council, the joint investment platform established with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and engagement with BlackRock as key cooperation mechanisms. It also refers to memorandums on critical minerals aimed at strengthening the reliability of supply chains for their extraction and processing.

In conclusion, “Infozakon” notes that the forthcoming “C5+1” ministerial meeting in Samarkand, with the participation of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a high-level delegation from the American business community, will give practical impetus to the implementation of projects worth more than $25 billion. Publication highlights Uzbekistan’s effective combination of bilateral partnerships with regional integration, turning the “C5+1” format into a practical platform for infrastructure and energy development and attracting international investors.