At the Tashkent International Investment Forum, a panel discussion titled “The New Silk Road is rapidly developing” examined Uzbekistan's potential to become an aviation hub. Participants emphasized the need for a strong home carrier, transit development, fleet expansion, workforce training, digitalization, a cargo strategy, and clear rules for investors.

Alisher Sattorov, First Deputy Chairman of Uzbekistan Airways, expressed confidence in existing demand. He stated that the main challenge is to make demand sustainable. Promising markets include Southeast Asia, India, and Pakistan.

Javlonbek Umarkhojayev, Chairman of Uzbekistan Airports, argued that building new terminals is insufficient; a full ecosystem must be developed. He stressed that a hub airport cannot exist without a strong base airline.

Kazbek Bassiyev, representative of Vision Invest, noted that demand is growing faster than expected. The company is building a new airport in Tashkent with an initial capacity of 20 million passengers per year, with plans to eventually exceed 50 million.

Manuel Ambriz, Senior Advisor at Abrial, suggested Uzbekistan could become a new tourism “frontier.” He argued that traditional destinations are suffering from overtourism, while Central Asia offers fresh experiences for discerning travelers.

Suresh Subudi, Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group, highlighted that Uzbekistan's air cargo volume has nearly doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels. Mario Antonio Ebsim, Commercial Sales Director at Boeing, emphasized the importance of cargo aviation and e-commerce as growth drivers.

Marius Dan, CEO of Templeton Global Investments for Central Asia, outlined Uzbekistan Airways' transformation program and potential IPO. He stated that preparation for the IPO should begin in late June or early July with the selection of advisors.

Source: www.gazeta.uz