The IV Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) showcased Uzbekistan’s expanding role as a regional hub for legal innovation, industrial growth, and international cooperation.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 10 June 2025 – The IV Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) brought together global experts, investors, and policymakers to explore Uzbekistan’s development agenda, focusing on international legal infrastructure, next-generation pharmaceuticals, EU-Central Asia partnerships, and industrial transformation.
One of the key panel discussions was titled “Resolving International Disputes in Uzbekistan: The Tashkent International Commercial Court”, which introduced the Tashkent International Commercial Court (TICC)—an independent judicial body aligned with common law practices. Moderated by international legal expert Marie-Anne Birken, the session underscored the Court’s role in providing foreign investors with a fair, impartial, and professional platform for dispute resolution. Contributors included Herta Däubler-Gmelin, Nasser Mohsin Al-Adba, Jon Zaidi, Diana Bayzakova, Islambek Rustambekov, and Jamshid Urunov, who discussed how TICC complements Uzbekistan’s arbitration system and enhances investor confidence through legal reform.
The session “Next-Generation Pharmaceuticals: Investing in Future Technologies” explored the future of biotechnology and medical innovation in Uzbekistan. Alireza Haghighi, of Harvard Medical School, moderated the discussion with panellists such as Che Sooik, Murat Battal, Sarfaraz K. Niazi, Anastasia Kruglova, and Abdulla Azizov. Speakers addressed investment in RNA-based medicines and genetic therapies, with the Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry presenting progress in local manufacturing and regulation. Uzbekistan was positioned as an emerging hub for high-tech pharmaceutical investment and research.
In the session “EU–Central Asia Partnership: The Road from the Samarkand Summit”, moderated by Oybek Shaikhov, speakers including Toivo Klaar, Steffen Richter, David Monguzzi, Pierre-Paul Antoniessen, and Paul Burdion outlined Europe’s deepening economic engagement with Central Asia. Key announcements included the upcoming opening of a European Investment Bank office in Tashkent and strengthened collaboration in energy, digital connectivity, and water management.
Finally, the “Industry: Unlocking New Potential” panel addressed the transformation of Uzbekistan’s automotive and manufacturing sectors. Industry leaders such as Ivan Cao of BYD and Giuseppe Collino of Boston Consulting Group discussed full-scale EV production in Jizzakh, local job creation, and strategic partnerships. Oybek Burkhanov and Jovanka Porsche also spoke on industrial innovation, supply chain evolution, and cultural diplomacy, including plans for a transcontinental investment-themed train journey.
These sessions collectively reflect Uzbekistan’s commitment to legal transparency, industrial advancement, and international partnership—positioning the country as a strategic player in regional development and global markets.
Source: IN Diplomacy Reporters
