Market and project intelligence
Modernisation programmes, industrial projects and import demand in the segments that match your technology — including who is financing them.
Uzbekistan · Oʻzbekiston
Develop Industrial Business in Uzbekistan.
Market entry and business development for European industrial companies
With 37 million people and an industrial base that is being modernised with imported technology, Uzbekistan is the second market European suppliers should look at in Central Asia — and increasingly the first.
- Capital
- Tashkent
- Population
- 38.4 m
- Industrial firms
- ≈ 60,000
Sources: National Statistics Committee (population, 1 Apr 2026; industrial firms, 1 Dec 2025; imports, Jan–Sep 2025)
01 — The Market
The industrial market
The industrial market
in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia and the one with the broadest manufacturing base. Machinery and equipment account for about a third of all imports — a direct indicator of demand for European technology.
Roughly 60,000 companies are registered in industry, from large state-linked groups in mining, chemicals and energy to a fast-growing base of private producers in textiles, food processing and building materials. Many of them are replacing outdated equipment and looking for suppliers who can deliver technology, training and service together.
Localization is a recurring theme: customers frequently ask for local assembly, technology transfer or a service presence as part of the deal. Handled well, this is an advantage for European suppliers rather than an obstacle — but it has to be negotiated with the right people, in the right order.
02 — Market Entry
How AETEK supports market entry in Uzbekistan.
From the first structured look at the market to a signed contract — carried out on the ground, in the languages the business is done in.
Customer identification
Named producers and operators with a real need for your equipment, qualified before the first trip to Tashkent or the regions.
Stakeholder and decision-maker access
Owners, technical directors and procurement heads — plus the ministries and agencies that shape larger industrial projects.
Partner and distributor development
Local partners that can sell and service your product, checked for capability, portfolio conflicts and the willingness to invest in the brand.
Localization and technology transfer
When customers ask for local assembly, service capability or technology transfer, we structure what is realistic — and what should stay in Europe.
Negotiations and contracts
Offers that fit local requirements, negotiation support and the commercial terms — payment, delivery, warranty and service.
Close-up · Silk Road map
From the Aral Sea to the Fergana Valley.
Uzbekistan's industry lines up along the old caravan route. Seven stops from west to east — and seven very different buyers. Filter by sector or select a stop.
Nukus Karakalpakstan
- Chemicals
Soda production and a large gas-chemical complex on the Ustyurt plateau in the far west.
Bukhara
- Oil & gas
Gas fields and an oil refinery around one of the oldest cities on the route.
Navoi
- Metals & mining
- Chemicals
Home of one of the world's largest gold producers, a nitrogen-chemicals plant and a free economic zone.
Samarkand
- Manufacturing
Food processing, building materials and vehicle production, alongside the tourism the city is famous for.
Tashkent Capital
- Trade & capital
- Manufacturing
The capital and largest city: ministries, holdings, banks and much of the machinery and electrical industry. AETEK's representative works here.
Almalyk
- Metals & mining
One of the region's largest mining and metallurgical combines — copper, gold and zinc — in the middle of a major expansion.
Fergana Valley
- Manufacturing
- Oil & gas
The most densely populated region: textiles, food, an oil refinery in Fergana and car production in Asaka.
03 — Business Development
From first interest
From first interest
to a working market.
Uzbek industry buys from suppliers it knows. Continuity, service and visible references decide who is asked for the next quotation.
- A pipeline built on real modernisation projects.
- Direct contact with owners and technical directors.
- A first reference installation that opens the next ten.
Close-up · Population pyramid
A country under thirty.
With about 38 million people, Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia — and one of the youngest. That shapes demand, and the workforce you can hire.
MenAgeWomen
75+
70–74
65–69
60–64
55–59
50–54
45–49
40–44
35–39
30–34
25–29
20–24
15–19
10–14
5–9
0–4
Children 0–14
32 %≈ 12.4 million
Almost a third of the population is under 15 — a large market for food, consumer goods and education, and tomorrow's workforce.
Newcomers 15–24
15 %≈ 5.9 million
Around half a million young people enter the labour market every year. Companies that train them early find staff more easily.
Core workforce 25–54
39 %≈ 15.1 million
The prime working age. Many have worked abroad, in Russia or Kazakhstan, and bring that experience back.
55 and older 55+
13 %≈ 5.0 million
Only about one in eight people is older than 55 — the reverse of the age structure in Europe.
Median age
Uzbekistan ≈ 28
Germany ≈ 45
Rounded values in millions, by five-year age group.
04 — Procurement
Industrial procurement, both directions.
For European companies
Bring your technology into Uzbek industry: qualified customers, capable partners, and the commercial work between your organisation and the market.
For Uzbek industrial companies
Identify and qualify European manufacturers and suppliers — from technical specification and supplier search to delivery, commissioning and service.
05 — Local Presence
On the ground in Tashkent.
AETEK is represented in Tashkent and works from Germany with offices and representatives across the corridor: Haibach (headquarters), Kazan, Almaty, Tashkent and Dubai. Business is done in Uzbek and Russian; we work in German, Russian and English. Our representatives also speak Uzbek.
TashkentCapital · AETEK
Market insight
Machinery and equipment account for about a third of all imports — strong demand for European technology.
Close-up · Fit check
Five questions — and where you would start.
Answer five short questions about your situation. The bars show which of the three ways to start fits best, and change with every answer.
A first orientation, not advice. Before anything is recommended, we look at your case in detail.
06 — Questions
Frequently asked questions.
Why Uzbekistan, and why now?
It is the most populous market in Central Asia, its industry is being modernised with imported equipment, and machinery already accounts for about a third of all imports. Suppliers who build relationships now are the ones quoted in the next investment cycle.
Do customers expect local production or technology transfer?
Often, yes — at least local assembly, service capability or training. It is negotiable, and in many cases it is what wins the project. We structure what is realistic for a mid-sized European supplier.
Which language is business done in?
Uzbek and Russian, with English mainly in technical documentation. AETEK works in German, Russian and English. Our representatives also speak Uzbek.
Should we start in Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan?
It depends on your product. Mining, oil and gas and heavy equipment usually start in Kazakhstan; consumer-facing manufacturing, textiles and food processing often start in Uzbekistan. We give a clear recommendation in the fit check.
How does a first project usually start?
With a fit check and a shortlist of qualified opportunities, followed by a first round of meetings on site. From there it becomes normal business development work: offers, clarification, negotiation.
The neighbouring project market: Tajikistan
07 — Let's Talk
Interested in Uzbekistan, but missing the first real contacts?
Tell us what you build. We will come back with an honest first assessment of the fit.
Business Development & Market Entry — Uzbekistan
From market potential to business.
Tell us which technology you want to bring into Uzbekistan and where you stand today: first enquiries, an existing partner, or a blank sheet.
Prefer email? info@aetek.eu
Explore further
Five markets, one corridor.
Other markets