PRAGUE, June 23. /Dunyo IA/. Czech PhD, lecturer, and international trade expert at the Metropolitan University Prague, Jaroslav Halik, shared his views with Dunyo IA on the Fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF–2026), which was held in the capital of Uzbekistan on June 16–18:

– The Fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF–2026), held on June 16–18, 2026, has become one of the most prestigious investment platforms in the Central Asian region. During the forum, Uzbekistan presented international investors, primarily multinational corporations, development banks, and sovereign investment funds, with specific investment proposals and promising projects valued at approximately €75 billion.

More than 3,400 foreign delegates from over 100 countries participated in the event. The forum agenda covered such pressing issues as the transformation of the energy sector, the extraction and processing of strategic and critical minerals—including tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium, and graphite—the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies, the digitalization of public administration, and the development of international transport, logistics infrastructure, and supply chains.

An important component of the forum was the fourth plenary session of the Foreign Investors Council, as well as an industrial exhibition showcasing the country’s investment potential. The announcement of the establishment of the U.S.–Uzbekistan Business and Investment Council is expected to further stimulate investment in sustainable technologies.

From a European perspective, the forum represents an important milestone in strengthening Europe’s presence in Central Asia. Under the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, €12 billion in investments have been allocated for the region. In addition, the European Investment Bank is officially opening a new regional office for Central Asia in Tashkent. The EU–Central Asia Joint Chamber of Commerce is commencing operations, while the EUROUZ Association is introducing new mechanisms for the legal protection of European capital in Uzbekistan. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, together with European states, plans to sign memoranda of understanding on investments in railway and port infrastructure.

Within the framework of TIIF–2026, the package of agreements with the Czech Republic also includes projects in the field of education. Their objective is to train highly qualified Uzbek specialists for joint industrial enterprises involving Czech and Uzbek partners.

Overall, the Fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum once again demonstrated Uzbekistan’s economic strength, investment attractiveness, and macroeconomic stability. The country’s ability to maintain sustainable economic growth of more than 5 percent annually in recent years remains an important factor in strengthening the confidence of international investors.