On 29-30 October 2026, the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), together with the Executive Body of State Authority of Sughd Region, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Public Organization "Youth Group on Protection of the Environment" (YGPE) and other national and international organizations and partners, co-organized the IV International Business Forum ROST-2026 in Khujand, Sughd Region, Tajikistan.
The forum attracted around 250 participants from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, including representatives of public authorities, businesses, international organizations and development partners. It provided a platform to explore investment opportunities, strengthen business partnerships and discuss ways to promote sustainable economic growth in small cities with a history of uranium production in Sughd Region. In total, 55 investment projects were prepared and presented during the Forum.
Discussions focused on practical ways to boost entrepreneurship, improve the business environment, support small and medium-sized enterprises, develop tourism, advance digital transformation and territorial branding, and attract investment to the Sughd Free Economic Zone. Participants also explored how stronger co-operation between local authorities and businesses could create jobs and unlock the economic potential of the small cities across Sughd Region. A dedicated session showcased the investment potential and priority projects of five target territories: Buston, Guliston, Istiqlol, Khujand and B. Gafurov District. Presentations highlighted local economic strengths, growth opportunities and flagship projects, pointing to concrete areas for investment and partnership.
The programme also included a visit to the Sughd Free Economic Zone, where participants explored local infrastructure, existing business opportunities and potential areas for co-operation. In addition, field visits to project sites in Istiqlol provided an opportunity to learn about local investment potential, infrastructure conditions, site readiness and prospects for project implementation.
Muminjon Umarov, Deputy Director of the Fortune Group of Companies (centre), speaks at the IV International Business Forum ROST-2026, alongside Anvar Yakubi, Deputy Chairman of Sughd Region (left), and Paul Schumacher, Head of GIZ's regional "Green Cities" project (right), Khujand, Sughd Region, 29 October 2026.
Ms. Isabel Úriz Hernández, Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan, highlighted:
"The EU-funded project on uranium legacy remediation is helping transform a difficult environmental legacy into a platform for new opportunity in the Sughd Region and across the wider Ferghana Valley. By supporting tourism potential, socio-economic assessments and the identification of new investment opportunities, the project is contributing to safer and more prosperous communities. This approach also reflects the European Union's Global Gateway strategy, which places connectivity between regions and sustainable investment in infrastructure at the forefront of our partnership agenda."
Ms. Karolyn Upham, Head of the Economic and Environmental Department at the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, emphasized:
"For centuries, this region has been a crossroad of trade, ideas and enterprise. Today this forum carries that tradition forward. OSCE believes that platforms like this forum can connect business, government, communities and ultimately build the trust that economic security depends on."
Ms. Milada Bielekova, UNDP Regional Project Coordinator, underscored:
"Sustainable economic development goes hand in hand with environmental protection and community well-being. Through our partnership with the European Union and the OSCE, UNDP supports local communities in addressing the legacy of uranium mining while promoting investment, economic diversification and new opportunities for inclusive and sustainable growth across the Sughd Region."
Mr. Paul Schumacher, Project Manager of the regional project "Green Cities" at GIZ, noted:
"Through our Green Cities project, financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ supports municipalities to build the capacities and develop the solutions needed for sustainable urban development."
Participants pose for a group photo at the IV International Business Forum ROST-2026, Khujand, Sughd Region, 29 October 2026.
Towns in Sughd region, such as Istiqlol, Buston and Guliston, have a distinct industrial history shaped by uranium mining during the Soviet period. While this industry contributed to local development, it also left behind uranium legacy sites that require long-term attention and remediation due to risks to health and the environment. Today, initiatives such as this Forum, which aim to attract investment, support local businesses and diversify the economy are helping redefine the region beyond its mining past. Among other partners, the EU, OSCE and UNDP contributed to the forum within the framework of the EU-funded project "Stakeholder Engagement for Uranium Legacy Remediation in Central Asia - Phase III", implemented by the OSCE and UNDP in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The project reflects the shared commitment of the EU, OSCE and UNDP to environmental protection and stakeholder engagement, helping communities address environmental challenges and reduce the potential health and environmental risks associated with uranium legacy sites across Central Asia.
