00:02Investors, bankers and business leaders from around the world gathered in Uzbekistan's capital as the fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum
00:10got underway.
00:11As the country seeks to attract more foreign investment, discussions highlighted opportunities in sectors ranging from energy and industry to
00:19digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence.
00:22We are heavily investing in green energy. With AI, you need compute. For compute, you need energy. And instead of
00:30exporting energy as raw energy, we would like to export it in the form of the AI data center services.
00:38Throughout the day, panels and business forums brought together government officials, investors and industry leaders. Discussions focused on investment, technology,
00:48infrastructure and the policies needed to support long-term economic growth.
00:53Many participants argued that international investors are increasingly looking beyond traditional markets in search of new opportunities.
01:00Investors attending the forum said reforms and economic growth were drawing increasing international attention.
01:06Investors are very keen to participate in the capital markets of the country. I think Uzbekistan has come out as
01:14the one country that's putting in a lot of effort in attracting investors and making it easy for businesses to
01:23come to Uzbekistan to invest here heavily, to establish.
01:26But attracting investment is only part of the equation.
01:29Several participants said long-term capital depends not only on opportunities, but also on confidence in the business environment.
01:37There must be trust. Private companies, they need to have some profitability. And in that, they need certainty in terms
01:46of trust in the country that there will be political stability and the return will be guaranteed.
01:55And there will be enough support in terms of local legal framework that is good that gives them confidence and
02:04have enough labor and resources in the country to make their business grow.
02:10The forum also provided an opportunity for Uzbekistan to deepen ties with international partners.
02:16At the American Uzbek Business Forum, officials highlighted the presence of 193 American companies, the largest U.S. business delegation
02:25ever to attend an investment event in the country.
02:28That international participation was one of the clearest signs of the growing attention Uzbekistan is attracting from global investors.
02:36Behind me, investors, business leaders, and government officials are already meeting on the sidelines of the Tashkent International Investment Forum,
02:44exploring opportunities in sectors ranging from energy and infrastructure to technology and finance.
02:50The exhibition offers a snapshot of the industries attracting international interest, but many of the most important discussions are taking
02:57place away from the standards.
02:59In the lead-up to the forum, President Shevkat Merzioev has held a series of meetings with executives from major
03:05American companies and financial institutions, discussing investment projects, industrial cooperation, and financial opportunities.
03:12He has also met visiting leaders, including Albania's President Bayram Begay, as economic partnership and trade links move higher on
03:19the original agenda.
03:20The focus now shifts from preparation and negotiations to the announcements, agreements, and investment decisions that could emerge from the
03:27forum itself.
03:29Roshana Rahmatullayeva, Euronews, Tashkent.
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