From November 21 to 23, 2024, the 29th Tashkent International Tourism Fair “Tourism on the Silk Road” TITF-2024 will be held in Tashkent.
The Tashkent International Tourism Fair is the largest information event that promotes tourism products and establishes business contacts for cooperation.
Over the past three decades, TITF has established itself as one of the most prominent events in the tourism sector and is the largest event in Central Asia, held annually with the official support of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). In 2023, TMTF hosted more than 1,500 participants from both local and international organizations, 15 foreign and more than 50 local travel companies under the Hosted Buyers program, as well as more than 13,000 visitors from 30 countries.
In addition, last year’s fair was marked by the signing of more than 8,000 agreements and more than 20,000 negotiations between representatives of the travel industry. Participation in the Tashkent International Tourism Fair “Silk Road Tourism” (TITF) provides many benefits for both tourism industry professionals and travel enthusiasts:
– Conducting business deals;
– Search for new partners;
– Support for industry development;
– Popularization of travel products;
– Familiarization with new trends;
– Conducting marketing research.
At the same time, the recent reforms in the tourism sector in Uzbekistan have helped to attract major companies and representative offices to Uzbekistan, increase inbound and outbound passenger traffic and outbound tourism, as well as increase demand for all types of tourism services.
The rules of participation are available at www.titf.uz.
The first Central Asian Universities Forum, organized by Times Higher Education (THE) with the support of the New Uzbekistan University, will be held in Tashkent on October 16-17 this year.
The forum will bring together more than 200 delegates from Central Asia and other countries, including representatives of academia, government policy and industry. Experts will discuss topical issues and innovative solutions that shape the future of higher education in the region.
The key topics of discussion will be:
The program of the forum will include lectures, panel discussions, workshops and experience exchange sessions, as well as presentations of the latest achievements in the field of educational technologies.
The forum will be preceded by a series of lectures by such world-renowned scientists as Jean Tirole (Nobel Prize in Economics), Luciano Recolla (one of the leading experts in theoretical astrophysics), and Eric Grimson (Chancellor and Vice President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
On October 9 this year, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev familiarized himself with the draft master plan for the city of Tashkent.
Currently, the city’s territory is 43,822 hectares and the population is over 3 million people. These figures will undoubtedly grow in the future. In this regard, a master plan for Tashkent until 2045 has been developed.
According to the project, the territory of Tashkent will be divided into three zones. The conservation zone will ensure the preservation of cultural heritage sites, historical sites, buildings, and green areas. In the reconstruction zone, additional construction will be possible based on master plans. In the renovation zone, new construction will be carried out on the site of old housing and dilapidated buildings, as well as their repair.
In particular, it is planned to triple the area of green spaces in Tashkent and its environs to 25,000 hectares. This will increase the area of green space per capita from the current 3 to 6 square meters.
According to the requirements of urban planning, residents should be able to reach the nearest kindergarten, school, hospital, shopping and service facilities from their place of residence in no more than 15 minutes. In this regard, the public transportation network will be expanded, the number of hubs and stops will be increased, new roads will be built and metro bus routes will be organized.
Tashkent’s growth is putting additional pressure on the city’s electricity, water and sewerage infrastructure. The new master plan includes measures to increase the capacity of these systems to ensure sustainable operation.
The President of Uzbekistan has set a goal to turn Tashkent into a metropolis with a population of at least 7.5 million people. To this end, it is planned to develop the districts of Tashkent region – Kibray, Zangiat, Yukorichirchik, Urtachirchik and Tashkent – on the basis of a single agglomeration with the capital.
The project is aimed at creating comfortable living and working conditions in a fast-growing metropolis, which will make Tashkent even more environmentally friendly and modern.
The III International Investment Forum (IIIF) successfully completed its work in Uzbekistan. The event gathered more than 2.5 thousand participants from 93 countries, providing a platform for global dialog and exchange of best practices in the investment sphere.
One of the key events of the forum was the presentation of regional energy projects (construction of Kambarata HPP-1 and Javan HPP) to foreign investors. The presentation was held with the participation of the Prime Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, which emphasized the importance of these projects for the entire region.
The forum attracted the attention of international media and was covered by more than 110 foreign publications from 30 countries, including the world’s leading media: “CNN”, “Euronews”, “London Post” and “Associated Press”.
As a result of TMIF, agreements totaling $26.6 billion were signed, which is evidence of Uzbekistan’s high investment attractiveness and the success of the forum. For comparison, 167 documents worth $11 billion were signed at TMIF in 2022, which demonstrates a significant increase in investment interest in the country.
In particular, agreements were reached on the realization of the following major investment projects:
– “Data Volt” from Saudi Arabia will be engaged in the construction of urban infrastructure in “New Tashkent” for the amount of $1 billion, as well as create a “data center” based on green technologies for the amount of $3 billion.
– Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power is implementing projects to build a 5 GW wind farm in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and create 2 GW of electricity storage capacity for a total of $6.2 billion.
– UAE-based Amea Power will implement a $1.1 billion project to build a 1,000 MW wind farm in the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
– Saudi Tabrid will start modernization of the heat supply system in Nukus, Fergana and Kuvasai at a cost of $750 million.
– Egypt’s Nil Shugar will grow sugar beets and produce sugar in Jizzak oblast at a cost of $500 million.
– The Chinese company Shanghai Knud International is implementing a $205 million project to produce textile and garment products in Namangan region.
– The company “Wilmar International” (Singapore) will produce food products and confectionery in Tashkent region to the amount of $200 million dollars.
In addition, the forum reached agreements with a number of the world’s largest companies, such as “Orascom Investment” (Egypt), “Bonafarm Grup” (Hungary), “Sayar” (USA), “Goldwind”, “Sinoma” (China), “Sam Yapi” (Turkey), “Pasha Development” (Azerbaijan), “Lasselsberger” (Austria), “Petrosat Chexelsoton” (Iran) on realization of new investment projects worth $6.6 billion.
The event included a rich program of panel sessions, discussions, business breakfasts and round tables where the most important aspects of economic development were discussed. The central topic was the role of the government, investors and entrepreneurs in supporting small and medium-sized businesses.
At the session devoted to anti-corruption, experts emphasized that the effective fight against corruption and crime in the economy is a key factor for improving the investment climate. They noted that creating a safe and transparent business environment plays an important role in this process.
“A successful fight against corruption requires a comprehensive approach that includes strengthening legislation and increasing transparency of government actions,” said Akmal Burkhanov, director of the Agency for Countering Corruption of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The session devoted to retail trade outlined the main challenges and opportunities for the industry. The participants expressed their opinion on the need to improve tax legislation and simplify import procedures. They also noted that it is important to create conditions for successful adaptation of new brands on the market.
“Thanks to the decree on the reduction of customs duties, we managed to set fair prices like in the UK and Kazakhstan,” shared Ilya Lyapustin, Sales and Marketing Director of Tashkent City Mall.
The business breakfast dedicated to women’s entrepreneurship emphasized the significant impact of businesswomen on society. Speakers presented inspiring examples and strategies for striking a balance between profitability and social responsibility.
The focus was on attracting foreign investment through residence permit programs.
“Over the past few years, Uzbekistan has established itself as an attractive destination for global investors due to its openness to cooperation and prospects in the real estate sector,” said Akram Mukhamatkulov of Henley&Partners.
The roundtable “Supply Chains and Sustainability: finding a balance in the face of uncertainty” discussed the challenges and strategies to ensure the sustainability of global supply chains.
“Turkey and Uzbekistan have a strategic partnership, and we can significantly strengthen cooperation by working together,” said Turkish Deputy Trade Minister Sezay Ucarmak.
The experts also emphasized the importance of integrating digital technologies into investment strategies. They noted that digitalization is not the future, but already today, and plays a key role in accelerating investment processes and increasing transparency.
At the pitch session “IT-PARK Uzbekistan: New Development Prospects”, plans to turn Uzbekistan into a regional center of information technologies by 2030 were presented.
Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan, spoke about the significance of recent investments. “Yesterday we witnessed an important event – the start of construction of the $5 billion Data Volt green data center, which is a major foreign direct investment project. We are creating a favorable environment for IT companies and launching a Zero Risk program to cover all risks associated with opening and running offices in Uzbekistan,” he said.
At the round table “Connections: Revival of the Great Silk Road”, international experts and representatives of state bodies explored opportunities to expand ties, economic cooperation and cultural exchange along the ancient routes of the Silk Road.
At the roundtable “Integrated Urban Planning: Quality Investments, Comfort for Environment and People”, leading urbanists, architects and representatives of the business community discussed approaches to the development of the city of Tashkent. In particular, BCG Managing Director and Senior Partner Vladislav Butenko emphasized the importance of integrating innovative solutions into urban planning to achieve sustainable urban development. He emphasized that both economic and social aspects should be taken into account in integrated planning, ensuring a balance between them.
The Forum has played an important role in attracting investments for various ministries and regions of Uzbekistan. The agreements signed demonstrate the development of key sectors such as industry, energy, pharmaceuticals and automobile manufacturing.
One of the main achievements of the forum was the agreement between the Ministry of Digital Technologies, the Ministry of Energy and IT company Data Volt on the construction of a data center based on “green” technologies. Experts noted the importance of such projects for Uzbekistan. Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and Data Volt director Rajit Nanda took part in the signing ceremony.
The III International Investment Forum in Tashkent has come to an end, but the planned initiatives and signed agreements promise active work on attracting investments and ensuring sustainable development. Uzbekistan has reaffirmed its role as a strategic partner in the international arena, attracting the attention of global investors and contributing to the economic growth of the region.
The forum was also attended by representatives of Ukraine, including pharmaceutical business and agro-industrial complex.
From February 29 to March 1, Tashkent will host the Hotel Business Forum-2024, which will discuss key issues of tourism and hospitality development in Uzbekistan with the participation of world experts, investors and leading industry players.
The event, organized with the support of the Tourism Committee and the Hoteliers Association of Uzbekistan, will become a significant event in the hospitality industry, a platform for business meetings, dialogue and exchange of experience for company representatives and leading experts on new trends in the industry.
The forum focuses on the development and implementation of innovative concepts, turning them into successful enterprises from design to market entry.
It is planned to cover various issues, including green technologies, return on investment in franchises, the role of information technology, environmental aspects, and the digitalization of services in the hotel business.
The event will also feature the National Hospitality Award of Uzbekistan, designed to identify the best companies in the hospitality industry and increase the country’s tourist attractiveness.
The Institute of Advanced International Studies has opened at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent.
The main activities of the Institute are interdisciplinary study of topical issues of international relations, world economy, international law, regional and country studies, preparation of information and analytical documents, forecasts and recommendations on current issues of modern world politics and economy.
The Institute will organize fundamental and applied research on Afghanistan and South Asia, the Asia-Pacific region, European and American directions, contemporary global development, sustainable development, energy geopolitics, economic diplomacy, international law, as well as the study of anthropology and conflict studies.
This “think tank”, consisting of 8 research centers and laboratories, is composed of experienced and highly qualified specialists and experts in international relations, including diplomats, 3 doctors of sciences and 5 candidates of sciences, including those with experience in international organizations, including UN structures, universities of the United States, Great Britain, Japan and others.
