Uzbekistan intends to attract $3 billion annually through public-private partnerships, Spot reported referring to a special report by GlobalMarkets.
Economic Development Minister Jamshid Kuchkarov indicated that this amount would cover half of the investment needs for sustainable development. According to him, 8.7% of GDP should be invested in the country’s infrastructure annually.
The portfolio of the PPP Development Agency for 2022-2026 includes 154 investment projects. Their total estimate is $13.99 billion.
The largest of the initiatives in this area is the program for the modernization of airports in Uzbekistan, which, according to calculations, will require $3.8 billion. Separately, the modernization of the air harbors of Bukhara and Urgench for $100 million is indicated.
One of the most expensive projects will also be the Tashkent-Andijan toll road, the construction of which will cost $2.83 billion. Another route between Tashkent and Samarkand is estimated at $1.4 billion.
In addition, it is planned to build 13 power plants for $3.09 billion – six photovoltaic, three wind and four TPPs. Also, the government has planned to modernize gas pipelines, starting from Jizzakh and Tashkent, build schools, waste processing projects, etc.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has implemented or started implementing 312 PPP projects, estimated in total at more than $10 billion. The main areas were energy and utilities, the report emphasizes.
The current energy capacity of Uzbekistan is outdated, Khasan Khasanov, responsible for energy and transport at the PPP Development Agency, said. Therefore, long-term investments in power generation are needed.
Karauzyak wind farm project with the participation of ACWA, transfer of the Tashkent Veolia heating system, reconstruction of the Samarkand airport, as well as joint dialysis clinics with the Indian NephroPlus, have been especially noted.