Tajikistan Invites Global Investors to Five Major International Industrial Forums in 2026
Dushanbe, The Gulf Observer: Tajikistan has announced a series of five major international industrial forums to be held in Dushanbe during the second half of 2026, inviting global investors, international companies, financial institutions and business partners to explore emerging investment opportunities across key sectors of the country’s rapidly expanding industrial economy.
Organised by the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan, the forums are aimed at strengthening international industrial cooperation, attracting foreign direct investment, promoting technology transfer and supporting the country’s Accelerated Industrialization Strategy.
According to the ministry, industrial output in Tajikistan has more than doubled in recent years, reaching 66.7 billion somoni in 2025, with real industrial growth of 22.1 percent during the year. A total of 396 new industrial enterprises and workshops were launched in 2025, generating more than 2,400 new jobs.
The ministry highlighted Tajikistan’s competitive advantages for investors, including electricity generated almost entirely from renewable hydropower, more than 240 investment guarantees and incentives—including 110 tax and customs benefits—five Special Economic Zones offering extensive tax exemptions and attractive land lease rates, a strategic location linking Central Asia, China and South Asia, and a US$15.7 billion State Investment Programme for 2026–2030.
The International Food Industry Forum, scheduled for 20–21 August, will focus on expanding value-added food processing as the government seeks to increase food exports tenfold within the next five years. Priority investment areas include fruit and vegetable processing, dairy production, food packaging, food technologies, and certification and quality standards.
The International Textile Forum, to be held on 22–23 September, will showcase opportunities in cotton processing, silk production and garment manufacturing. The government plans to establish ten integrated textile clusters to raise textile exports from US$300 million to US$3 billion, while investors will benefit from discounted industrial electricity tariffs and improved access to regional and international markets.
The AI Conf 2026, scheduled for 30–31 October, will build on the success of the inaugural conference held in 2025, which generated US$117 million in agreements. The event will highlight Tajikistan’s ambitions to become a regional artificial intelligence hub through initiatives such as Area AI, the world’s first dedicated Artificial Intelligence zone, an AI cluster powered by NVIDIA H200 infrastructure using renewable hydropower, the National Cloud Center, and the country’s AI Strategy extending to 2040.
In November, the International Mining and Metallurgy Forum will promote investment in one of Tajikistan’s fastest-growing industries. The country has more than 800 explored mineral deposits and produces over 50 minerals and metals, including antimony, rare earth elements, lithium, niobium and tantalum. Officials said Tajikistan possesses reserves of 10 of the world’s 12 critical minerals essential for the global energy transition and has identified 18 critical minerals listed by the United States, the European Union and China.
The International Coal Industry Forum, scheduled for December, will focus on advanced coal processing technologies and carbon materials production. Tajikistan currently ranks as the second-largest coal producer in Central Asia, with estimated coal reserves of 4.5 billion tonnes. The forum will highlight the strategic potential of the Fon-Yagnob coking coal deposit and the Nazar-Aylok anthracite deposit for producing high-value carbon materials used in batteries, electronics and aerospace industries.
The ministry noted that previous industrial forums have already delivered significant results. In 2025, the Textile Forum attracted participants from more than 50 countries, the AI Conference generated US$117 million in cooperation agreements, while the Mining Forum welcomed more than 300 participants and resulted in numerous memorandums of understanding and investment agreements.
Through the 2026 industrial forums, Tajikistan aims to accelerate international partnerships, attract greater foreign investment, promote technological innovation and increase industry’s contribution to the national economy. The government has set a target of raising industry’s share of gross domestic product to 26 percent by 2026 and 30 percent by 2030, positioning the forums as a key platform for advancing the country’s long-term industrial development agenda.
