Sojitz Enters New Tashkent International Airport Development and Operation Business in Uzbekistan - Development of Central Asia’s Largest Hub Airport to Open in 2030 -

Sojitz Corporation (“Sojitz”), together with Saudi Arabia’s development and investment company Vision International Investment Company (“Vision Invest”) and Korea’s airport operator Incheon International Airport Corporation (“IIAC”), has signed a 35-year concession agreement with Uzbekistan’s state-owned management company JSC Uzbekistan Airports (“Uzbekistan Airports”) for the development and operation of a new international airport planned for the capital city, Tashkent. The new airport is scheduled to open in 2030, with total project costs expected to exceed JPY 370 billion (USD 2.5 billion*1). This project aims to establish the new airport as Central Asia’s largest aviation hub for passenger transport, cargo, and logistics.

Uzbekistan, a landlocked country in Central Asia, is the largest market in the region with a population of 37 million. Driven by population growth and increasing foreign direct investment, the country recorded real GDP growth of over 7.7% in 2025. Under its national development strategy, Uzbekistan-2030, the government is promoting infrastructure development and aviation sector reforms through public-private partnerships (PPP).

Amidst Uzbekistan’s continued economic growth, air passenger demand in the Tashkent area rose at an annual rate of 14.2%.*2 The new airport will be capable of accommodating up to 20 million passengers annually, roughly double the yearly total at the existing airport, and designed to meet future demand.

The project will be developed and operated by Sojitz, Vision Invest, IIAC, and Uzbekistan Airports. The companies will leverage their collective expertise in the airport business through this PPP project to develop and operate a safe and convenient new airport. Sojitz has built an extensive network in the aviation industry through years of experience in airport operations and the aircraft business. Leveraging this network, Sojitz will attract airlines to the new airport, with a focus on expanding international routes. Additionally, Sojitz will utilize the Group's diversified business platform to operate related businesses such as airport concessions and ground handling in order to increase the new airport’s overall value.

Since the 1990s, Sojitz has expanded its presence in Uzbekistan through export projects such as construction of a plant. The company is currently engaged in projects including Syrdarya II, a 1.6 GW thermal power plant IPP business in the Syrdarya region that will cover up to 10% of the country’s electricity demand, a 1 GW wind power plant in the Navoi region, and an 800-bed multidisciplinary hospital construction project in the Samarkand region, one of the largest of its kind in the country. Building on large-scale investments in infrastructure including the new international airport project, Sojitz plans to leverage these investments to expand into a broader range of businesses in Uzbekistan with the aim of contributing to the country’s sustainable growth.

*1: USD = 150 JPY
*2: Source: Uzbekistan Airports (2024 - 2025)

Contact: Sojitz Corporation Public Relations Dept.　hodo@sojitz.com