“Uzbekistan will hold tenders to attract foreign companies to manage its airports”, Minister of Transport Elyor Ganiyev announced.

“I want to inform you that we will carry out this process on a tender basis. Therefore, it is still early to say that whether Japanese or Russian companies will manage airports. Only the tender results will show,” the minister said.

He also confirmed that the Russian company Novaport “intended to directly conclude contracts.” “But our position is yet clear, so we will do it on a tender basis,” Ganiyev emphasized.

Noteworthy, the Russian Novaport planned to take control of the airports of Samarkand, Namangan and Urgench, after a reconstruction. At the same time, the company wanted to get airports for 30 years.

Uzbekistan’s airports are attracting interest from the Japanese company Sumitomo Corporation and the Russian holding “Airports of the Regions”, which is part of the Renova group of companies.

The head of the Ministry of Transport noted that cooperation with foreign management companies at the airports of Uzbekistan will be carried out on the principles of public-private partnership or concession.