Global fast-food giant Burger King set to launch in Uzbekistan

One of the world’s largest and most well-known fast-food chains, Burger King, is expected to launch operations in Uzbekistan in the coming months. This announcement was made during an April 18, 2025, videoconference chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which focused on mitigating the impact of global economic fluctuations on Uzbekistan’s industries. Shuhrat Ergashev, founder of International Beverages Tashkent, disclosed the news.

During his discussion with the President, Ergashev revealed that his company had reached an agreement with Burger King and acquired the license to open fast-food restaurants in Uzbekistan.

“Ten years ago, we were chasing after them, asking them to come to Uzbekistan. Now, we’ve reached an agreement. We’ve obtained their license for the Republic of Uzbekistan. Within 2-3 months, Burger King establishments will open here. This will not only be limited to Tashkent. They’ve proposed opening their regional headquarters in Tashkent and providing licenses for all of Central Asia,” Ergashev stated.

Ergashev also emphasized that foreign investors often check if global brands like Burger King or McDonald’s are present in a country before entering its market, as this serves as a key indicator for investment opportunities.

During the same meeting, it was announced that starting from July 1, there will be no restrictions on the export of goods, except for 86 categories of raw materials and socially significant products, which will have export duties imposed.