Uzbekistan proposes hosting SCO investment forum in 2026

Uzbekistan has proposed hosting the first SCO Invest investment forum in 2026. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the initiative on September 1 during a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Plus meeting in Tianjin, China.

Mirziyoyev stressed the need to remove trade barriers, harmonise standards, develop electronic trading platforms, and strengthen industrial cooperation and innovation.

“To create an effective platform for business dialogue, I propose holding the SCO Invest investment forum annually with the participation of all interested partners. We are ready to host the first forum in Uzbekistan next year,” he said.

The Uzbek president also underlined the importance of developing reliable transport corridors to enhance regional connectivity. He highlighted the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway project as a key initiative, noting that its future link to the Trans-Afghan corridor would create a single transport network within the SCO space.

Mirziyoyev further emphasised the SCO’s scientific and technological potential in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, robotics, bioengineering, and renewable energy. He proposed establishing a network of SCO innovation and technology hubs to generate new ideas, foster advanced initiatives, and accelerate technology transfer.

The Uzbek leader also called for deeper cultural and humanitarian ties among SCO member states. “I propose to establish the Great Silk Road Cultural Dialogue to promote cultural diversity and the rich values of the SCO family,” he said.

He added that the upcoming UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand this autumn would provide a significant platform to showcase the region’s cultural heritage and invited all partners to take part in the event.

The SCO summit is taking place in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, with participation from over 20 heads of state and representatives of 10 international organisations. The summit concluded with the signing of 15 new cooperation agreements. The SCO, founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001, initially included Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined in 2017, followed by Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.