Saida Mirziyoyeva. Photo from social media
As part of the agreements reached at the November 6 “Central Asia–U.S.” (“C5+1”) summit, the U.S.–Uzbek Business and Investment Council is being established. The council’s co-chair from the Uzbek side is the head of the Presidential Administration, Saida Mirziyoyeva. The decree of the head of state, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, was published on the presidential website.
According to the document, Mirziyoyeva has been granted authority to approve the council’s membership, regulations, and procedures on behalf of Uzbekistan. Her counterpart from the United States will be appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The new body’s key areas of focus will include:
✅ Coordinating the development and alignment of strategic business initiatives, major investment and trade projects, and monitoring their implementation;
✅ Establishing a special fund to attract additional investment to Uzbekistan, involving the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and international financial institutions;
✅ Continuing negotiations on the mutual reduction of tariff rates;
✅ Promoting the products and services of companies based in the Technological Park of Software Products and Information Technologies (IT Park);
✅ Proposing measures to diversify the country’s investment portfolio.
Starting January 1, 2026, a new position of Counselor–Envoy, representing the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, will be introduced at the country’s embassy in the United States to strengthen coordination of joint initiatives. The appointment and dismissal of this diplomatic officer will fall under the authority of the head of the Presidential Administration.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been tasked with exploring the opening of additional Uzbek consulates in U.S. cities with large Uzbek communities, including Philadelphia, Chicago, Orlando, and Seattle. The ministry will also work on establishing closer ties with Uzbek diasporas across the United States.
The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, together with U.S. partners, will form a permanent staff for the council’s executive body, with an office in the United States. Officials will also begin negotiations with the U.S. on a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement.
Under the presidential decree, effective January 1, 2026, financial transactions by Uzbek residents related to investment activity in the United States—including transfers from Uzbek bank accounts for the creation of statutory funds or the replenishment of working capital for their branches in America—will be carried out without restrictions.
