Explaining the need for the new mechanism, the Head of State emphasized that “major ideas require not only investment, but also thorough preparation, expertise, clear financial instruments and support.” At the same time, the countries of the region have already set “serious goals for the growth of mutual trade and investment,” and therefore, as the President noted, “it is necessary to determine what will drive this growth.”

In this regard, the transition from expanding trade and economic ties to implementing joint projects is becoming important for the states of the region, as it makes it possible to deepen industrial cooperation and create products with high added value. This requires a mechanism that ensures comprehensive project preparation, coordination of financial resources and support throughout implementation.

The Platform proposed by the Head of State can address these tasks by forming a common list of priority joint projects and organizing their preparation on the basis of agreed standards. A key element of this approach will be support for projects at every stage, from initial development and technical appraisal to securing financing and practical implementation.

The relevance of the initiative is also driven by the region’s existing investment potential. According to UNCTAD, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to Central Asia increased by 12% in 2025, reaching approximately $5 billion. Meanwhile, the region’s potential to attract FDI over the next ten years is estimated at $170 billion.

Realizing this potential requires not only further attraction of external capital, but also the creation of conditions for pooling the financial capacities of the countries of the region and channeling investment more effectively into projects that will help deepen industrial cooperation and expand mutual trade.

In this context, an important advantage of the initiative is the opportunity to build on existing mechanisms of investment cooperation. A number of countries already operate joint investment funds and companies focused on financing projects in industry, energy, transport infrastructure and other sectors of the economy. These include the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Company, the Uzbek-Kyrgyz Investment Fund and the Kazakhstan-Tajikistan Direct Investment Fund.

The existence of such instruments lays the foundation for further expansion of mutual investment. At the same time, their potential can be strengthened by aligning investment priorities, coordinating approaches to project preparation and engaging international financial institutions more actively.

The practical significance of the initiative is reflected in three main areas.

First, accelerating the transition from intergovernmental agreements to the implementation of concrete projects. Agreed approaches to pre-investment preparation, technical appraisal and assessment of economic feasibility will make it possible to identify potential risks in advance and improve the readiness of projects to attract financing.

Second, expanding access to financial resources. Coordinating the capacities of national development institutions, joint investment funds and international financial organizations will make it possible to develop flexible co-financing schemes, distribute financial risks among participants and create additional conditions for attracting private capital.

Third, developing joint production chains. The Platform can become one of the instruments for the practical promotion of the “six economies – one product” formula, contributing to deeper industrial cooperation in the agro-industrial sector, light industry, the production of construction materials and the processing of raw materials. Combining the production, technological and financial capabilities of the countries will make it possible to expand the output of high value-added products and enhance their competitiveness in external markets.

Overall, the practical implementation of the Platform for Financial and Technical Support of Joint Investment Projects proposed by the President of Uzbekistan can give additional impetus to the development of economic interaction among the countries of the region. In the long term, this mechanism will contribute not only to expanding mutual investment and developing joint production, but also to creating conditions for strengthening the interconnectedness of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, as well as reinforcing the agency of the region.