Attracting Investment in the mining industry of Uzbekistan in the context critical minerals
Authors: Wim Doornenbal and Bekzod Zakirov
Key messages:
• Natural resources are an important part of Uzbekistan’s economy. Managing critical minerals effectively and avoiding a “green” resources curse requires strong institutions and sound policy.
• Credibility of reforms requires demonstrated outcomes beyond only legislation. Consistency across policy changes and the credibility of these reforms are important factors in attracting investment to produce higher value across critical minerals value chains.
• Uzbekistan should have positive differentiators for investment attraction visa-vis competing geologically endowed investment locations. Inward and outward institutional groundwork, as well as regional stability, are qualifying factors.
Doornenbal, W. and Zakirov, B. (2026). Attracting Investment in the mining industry of Uzbekistan in the context critical minerals. CPRO Policy Brief 2026-06. https://doi.org/10.70735/JOLI1854
