On 18–19 November 2025, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) hosted Think Road Forum 2025, organized by the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) with support from the World Bank. The forum focused on practical approaches to Central Asia’s sustainable development amid shifting regional cooperation, growing climate pressure, and transformation in the global economy.

 

The event brought together representatives of government agencies, international organizations, academia, business, and the expert community. Participants discussed regional connectivity, changing economic geography, environmental resilience, the energy transition, water management, education, digitalization, and labor-market development.

 

Speaking at the panel session “Sustainable Economic Development of Central Asia,” dedicated to investment, trade, and transport connectivity, Mansurjon Rasulev, Acting Director of the Investment Promotion Agency, noted Uzbekistan’s steady macroeconomic performance, with GDP growth reaching 6.5% in 2024. Against a backdrop of rising regional challenges—from the need to modernize infrastructure to strengthening supply-chain resilience—he stressed that Uzbekistan continues to prioritize a predictable, transparent, and investor-oriented business environment. He highlighted the importance of post-investment support mechanisms, including the Government Commission on Investments, Industry and Trade and the Foreign Investors Council under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. According to Rasulev, these instruments help foreign companies resolve issues faster, reduce administrative hurdles, and operate more confidently in the Uzbek market.

 

The forum served as a platform for analytical exchange and practical recommendations on Central Asia’s sustainable development and the opportunities created by deeper regional cooperation.