President Shavkat Mirziyoyev Issues Decree to Launch American-Uzbek Business and Investment Council

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).