The American-Uzbek Business and Investment Council convened for the first time on February 7, 2026, bringing together Co-Chairs Saida Mirziyoyeva and U.S. Special Envoy Sergio Gor for a session that set the tone for the Council's practical agenda.

Talks centered on strengthening commercial diplomacy, coordinating investment projects, and laying the groundwork for a dedicated development fund designed to drive cooperation in strategic industries.

The meeting marked the Council's transition from a diplomatic commitment to an operational body - with both sides ready to move from agreements on paper to projects on the ground.

Uzbekistan has taken a significant step in advancing its international standing, with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev participating in the founding ceremony of the Board of Peace - a newly established multilateral organization aimed at fostering political dialogue and conflict resolution.

The signing took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, formally designating Uzbekistan as one of the body's founding member states.

The Board of Peace was established at the initiative of U.S. President Donald Trump and is envisioned as a broad-based platform for diplomatic engagement. In its initial phase, the organization will focus primarily on implementing a comprehensive plan to stabilize the situation in Gaza - working to reduce the risk of further escalation across the Middle East, coordinate humanitarian relief efforts, and lay the groundwork for the region's long-term socioeconomic recovery.

By joining the Board, Uzbekistan is signaling a concrete commitment to the principles of peaceful diplomacy and international law. President Mirziyoyev indicated that his country stands ready to make a tangible contribution to the organization's humanitarian objectives. Tashkent has expressed particular willingness to support the rebuilding of civilian life in conflict-affected areas, including participation in the construction of housing, schools, and medical facilities for displaced and vulnerable populations.

The signing of the Board of Peace charter marks a milestone in what Uzbekistan's leadership has branded the era of "New Uzbekistan." Standing alongside the world's leading nations as a co-founder of an organization of this stature, the Central Asian republic is positioning itself as an active and responsible stakeholder in shaping the emerging architecture of global security.

Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, has been appointed Co-Chair of the newly established American-Uzbek Business and Investment Council - a body created to deepen economic ties between the two nations.

United States will be represented by Sergio Gor, bringing with him a track record that spans both the private sector and public service.

Gor is expected to serve as a key bridge between the business communities of the two countries - connecting American companies with emerging opportunities in one of Central Asia's fastest-growing economies.

The decision to establish the Council was made jointly by the presidents of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the United States Donald Trump on the sidelines of the C5+1 Summit on November 6, 2025, highlighting a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Ms. Mirziyoyeva's appointment sends a clear message about Tashkent's ambitions: Uzbekistan is actively courting American investment in its strategic economic sectors and positioning itself as an open and reform-driven partner for U.S. businesses.

The move also underscores Uzbekistan's broader push to expand its footprint in international economic cooperation - with Washington emerging as a key partner in that effort.

Mr. Gor's appointment reflects the Trump administration's broader economic agenda: strengthening American competitiveness abroad, expanding market access for U.S. businesses, and ensuring that international partnerships deliver tangible benefits for the American people.

Uzbekistan Formalizes American-Uzbek Business and Investment Council by Presidential Decree.

The Council's primary mandate is to strengthen trade and investment ties between Uzbekistan and the United States, improve the business climate, and foster entrepreneurship in both countries.

Its key areas of work include:

• Coordinating strategic business initiatives and overseeing their implementation.
• Establishing a dedicated investment fund - with the participation of the DFC, EBRD, IFC, and ADB - to channel foreign capital into Uzbekistan.
• Advancing negotiations on mutual tariff reductions.
• Promoting the products and services of Uzbekistan's IT Park residents on the U.S. market.
• Developing proposals to diversify the country's investment portfolio, including the potential use of a portion of the Central Bank's foreign currency reserves.

On the diplomatic front, Uzbekistan will introduce a new position at its U.S. Embassy starting January 1, 2026 - a Minister-Counselor representing the Presidential Administration. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been tasked with exploring the opening of additional consulates in Philadelphia, Chicago, Orlando, and Seattle.

Beginning in January, restrictions on investment activity in the United States will be lifted for Uzbek residents, including transfers for the formation of charter funds. The Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade has been directed to initiate negotiations with the U.S. on a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).

Uzbekistan and the United States agreed to establish a bilateral Business and Investment Council on November 6, 2025, marking a significant step toward deeper economic engagement between the two nations.

The announcement came during the C5+1 Summit, the centerpiece of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's three-day working visit to Washington D.C. Leaders of Central Asian states and a U.S. delegation led by President Donald Trump committed to transforming the long-standing diplomatic platform into a driver of regional economic growth and stability.

The same day, Presidents Mirziyoyev and Trump met privately at the Oval Office, where they followed up on agreements reached during their September 2025 talks.

On Capitol Hill, Mirziyoyev held consultations with key American legislators, including Senator Steve Daines and members of Congress Carol Miller, Bill Huizenga, and Sydney Kamlager-Dove. The discussions focused on rallying congressional support for new bilateral initiatives and broadening parliamentary ties between the two countries.

Economic diplomacy dominated much of the visit's agenda. At a roundtable with leading U.S. business figures, Uzbekistan positioned itself as a stable and investment-friendly partner. Mirziyoyev held targeted meetings with senior American executives to advance projects in energy, transport, technology, and industry - sitting down with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Export-Import Bank Chairman James Cruse, DFC CEO Ben Black, and General Motors International President Shilpan Amin.

The visit concluded with the signing of a sweeping package of bilateral and multilateral agreements covering trade liberalization, investment protection, and financial cooperation - laying the groundwork for what both sides described as a new chapter in their partnership.