On 3rd December, Vienna hosted the Uzbekistan–Austria business forum, bringing together government officials, business leaders and international institutions to explore new opportunities for bilateral economic cooperation and underscoring the growing interest of European companies in Uzbekistan’s fast-moving, reform-driven economy.
The Austrian side included both companies working in Uzbekistan and major firms exploring new opportunities — including Siemens Österreich, AVL List GmbH, ILF Consulting Engineers, VA TECH WABAG, INNIO Jenbacher, as well as leading financial institutions such as Raiffeisen Bank International and UniCredit Bank Austria — highlighting Austria’s strong and growing interest in projects across energy, industrial modernization, digital infrastructure, water technologies and international finance in Uzbekistan.
The program included the presentation Beyond Bridge Between Central Asia on the region’s strategic role as an economic and logistics hub between Europe and the discussions on industrial modernization, resilient infrastructure, green energy, new manufacturing capacities and long-term institutional partnerships — areas in which Uzbekistan continues to advance large-scale reforms.
Austrian partners noted the positive momentum in bilateral relations, including a doubling of exports, growing investment interest and the opening of the Economic Section of the Austrian Embassy in Uzbekistan. They highlighted such promising areas for cooperation as renewable energy, engineering, agro-processing, industrial automation, mining and winter tourism infrastructure, and expressed interest in expanding joint educational programs and applied research with leading Uzbek universities.
European participants stressed that Uzbekistan’s reform agenda — from tax and customs modernization to trade liberalization, improved transport connectivity and rapid IT-sector growth — is shaping one of the most attractive investment environments in Eurasia. Austria reaffirmed its support for Uzbekistan’s WTO accession and expressed willingness to deepen cooperation through European initiatives, including the development of the Trans-Caspian Corridor.
Acting director of the Investment Promotion Agency, Mansurjon Rasulev, presented Uzbekistan’s strategic investment vision, emphasized the country’s readiness for a deeper partnership with Austria’s private sector, and highlighted new opportunities in industrial modernization, sustainable energy, urban and transport infrastructure, digital transformation, international logistics and upcoming privatization programs, including major initiatives in New Tashkent and across the regions.
“Uzbekistan’s ongoing reforms create a strong foundation for the economy of tomorrow. We are building transparent rules, strong institutions and modern infrastructure that open the door to new projects. Austrian companies will find not just a promising market in Uzbekistan, but a reliable partner for long-term investment,” noted Mr. Rasulev.
On 4th December, Vienna hosted the Global Neighbours Breakfast Club focused on the key trends shaping Central Asia and the factors influencing the region’s development. The discussion aimed to identify new opportunities for cooperation and investment. During the session, Mansurjon Rasulev, acting director of the Investment Promotion Agency of Uzbekistan, presented an analysis of recent investment inflows, highlighting steady growth in foreign direct investment across both countries and sectors. He stressed that the investment portfolio has become increasingly diversified, with a visible rise in green energy, industrial modernization, digital technologies, logistics, and agriculture projects, alongside increased engagement from investors from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.