Minnikhanov in Uzbekistan: Innoprom, the launch of a plant in Navoi, and the creation of the "Gelon" resort

      Almost 20 companies from Tatarstan are participating in the "Innoprom" exhibition in Uzbekistan

      Two dozen companies from Tatarstan at the exhibition in Uzbekistan

      The President of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, arrived in Uzbekistan the day before. The main goal is to participate in the international exhibition "Innoprom. Central Asia." Tatarstan presented a unified stand showcasing the industrial, scientific, and technological potential of the republic. Nineteen companies are participating in the exhibition, reported the press service of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Tatarstan. In particular, the company "POZIS" showcased a combined laboratory and pharmaceutical refrigerator. The group "Escort," one of the leading Russian manufacturers of meteorological equipment, presented a weather station. The "Kazan Medical Instrument Plant" is demonstrating dental turbine handpieces, pulp extractors, canal expanders, and microsurgical forceps. The manufacturer of materials for trenchless rehabilitation of utility networks, "Technics," presented a sample of a pipe made from PVC profile, produced using spiral-wound technology for the reconstruction of sewage collectors. Additionally, with separate stands at the exhibition are KAMAZ, "Tatneft," and "Kazancompressormash" (as part of the GMS group exhibition).

      "You bring young entrepreneurs with you and open up opportunities for them in Uzbekistan"

      Rustam Minnikhanov met with the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Aripov. The President of the republic stated that Tatarstan views the exhibition as an important platform for strengthening cooperation with Central Asian countries, reported the head of the press service of the President of Tatarstan, Lilia Galimova. "I assess the level and dynamics of our interaction in recent years as very high," he stated, noting the expansion of the presence of Tatarstan enterprises in the Uzbek market. Aripov, in turn, thanked Minnikhanov for the representative delegation and highly appreciated the personal attention of the President of Tatarstan to the cooperation between the republics. "You bring young entrepreneurs with you and open up opportunities for them in Uzbekistan; this contributes to the development of cooperation and benefits the economies of both countries. You are a very experienced person. You have seen a lot and always provide good, useful suggestions," said the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan.

      Tatarstan makes a significant contribution to strengthening ties between Russia and Uzbekistan

      On the sidelines of the international industrial exhibition, Minnikhanov also met with the Governor of the Kashkadarya region, Murotjon Azimov. The Kashkadarya region is located in the south of Uzbekistan, in the basin of the Kashkadarya River. The region has significant industrial, agricultural, and tourism potential. The economy is based on fuel and energy and gas chemical complexes, electric power, agriculture, as well as textile and light industries. Minnikhanov noted that Tatarstan makes a significant contribution to strengthening ties between Russia and Uzbekistan. And cooperation between the regions allows for the expansion of the range of supplied goods. "Tatarstan is one of the leaders in the investment climate rating and one of the most developed Russian regions economically. We are an oil-producing and oil-refining republic. We have a developed petrochemical industry, and we produce cars, airplanes, helicopters, ships, and machinery. Special attention is paid to innovative development," stated the President of Tatarstan.

      Tatarstan business will participate in the creation of the "Gelon" resort complex

      At the meeting, they discussed the construction of one of the largest resort complexes in Central Asia – "Gelon." Entrepreneurs from Tatarstan are planned to be involved in its implementation. "The project is supported by the President of Uzbekistan. A decision has been made to provide the necessary infrastructure for its implementation," reported Murotjon Azimov. Agreements on the creation of the "Gelon" resort were reached in October 2023 at the interregional cooperation forum in Kazan. The Gelon village is surrounded by high mountains on all sides, with heights exceeding 4,000 meters to the east. It is one of the highest settlements in Uzbekistan. A tourist zone will be created on an area of 2,900 hectares. The territory plans to construct modern hotels, cultural and wellness facilities, and trade and entertainment objects, as well as all necessary engineering infrastructure. According to preliminary estimates, investments will amount to about $300 million in direct foreign investments, taking on possible risks. The implementation is planned in three phases from 2024 to 2030. By January 1, 2027, it is planned to invest $100 million.

      In Navoi, with the support of Tatarstan, the production of household chemicals has been launched

      During the exhibition, Minnikhanov also participated in the plenary session "Technological Hubs – A New Industrial Landscape." The First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, Denis Manturov, reported that within the framework of Russian-Uzbek cooperation, 150 investment projects worth 4 trillion rubles have already been implemented. He specifically highlighted the development of industrial parks and noted the "Chirchik" and "Jizzakh" sites as successful examples – these technoparks were created with the participation of Tatarstan. The Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Jamshid Khojaev, in turn, reported an increase in the number of joint ventures between the two countries. According to him, thanks to regional cooperation, their number has exceeded 3,000. At the same time, trade turnover between Tatarstan and Uzbekistan in 2025 amounted to $427 million, which is 13.5% more than the previous year, the press service of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Tatarstan reminded. In addition, Minnikhanov, along with Manturov and Khojaev, participated via video link in the launch of a facility at the industrial site in Navoi – this is another industrial park created with the help of Tatarstan. This concerns the company "Arnest Unigroup Navoi." The company for the production of household chemicals and cosmetics implemented its project with the support of the Republic of Tatarstan. It is planned that the enterprise will produce up to 85 million units of products annually.

      "A unique opportunity to offer your vision of the future"

      "In the context of increasing uncertainty about the contours of the future world, the intensification of geopolitical risks, and the growing sanctions pressure on emerging regional centers of power, occurring against the backdrop of a global restructuring of the world economy based on a new technological order, Russia has a unique opportunity to offer its vision of the future, in which the strengthening representatives of the Global South, primarily Muslim countries, will occupy a special place," commented Minnikhanov's visit Associate Professor of the Department of "State and Municipal Administration" of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Andrey Zubenko. According to him, the rupture of previous world economic ties has hit the economies of most countries hard, so strengthening existing and building new contacts between states today takes on special significance. He added that participation in the international exhibition "Innoprom. Central Asia" is part of Tatarstan's ongoing work to expand foreign economic ties. Zubenko separately reminded of the significance of the "International Economic Forum 'Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum.'" "As the President of Tatarstan noted then, 'the scale and spirit of the forum showed that in the current international realities, attempts to isolate Russia do not succeed. The event confirmed the friendly states' focus on expanding work with our country,'" he emphasized. He stated that assessing the possible significance of international cooperation events for the sustainable development of Tatarstan's economic ties, experts from the financial university note that such "soft power" tools have already proven to be the most effective means of maintaining long-term interest from foreign partners in working with republican enterprises, stimulating the growth of their foreign trade turnover with countries forming alternative centers of power. Zubenko added that experts also pay special attention to Rustam Minnikhanov's personal involvement in the development of such forms of dialogue and cooperation. "The authority of the first person of Tatarstan signals the level of importance that the republic attaches to building ties with Muslim countries in today's rapidly transforming world," he concluded.

      Photo: rais.tatarstan.ru