KUALA LUMPUR: Uzbekistan is in talks with AirAsia and other airlines to open new direct routes between Malaysia and Uzbekistan to strengthen connectivity and boost tourism, said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uzbekistan to Malaysia Karomidin Gadoev.
Gadoev said air connectivity has improved from two to eight weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Tashkent, now served by AirAsia X, Batik Air Malaysia and Uzbek Airways.
“And now we are talking to AirAsia and other air companies to expand connectivity, including direct routes to Samarkand,” he said at the Uzbekistan-Malaysia Business and Tourism Cooperation Forum yesterday.
The ambassador said the expansion of air links is expected to support tourism growth through Umrah+ travel packages in collaboration with Malaysian operators such as Tabung Haji Travel and Ikhlas Travel.
The Uzbekistan government had on Jan 9 adopted a special decision to enhance cooperation with Malaysia and Indonesia on Umrah+ packages, with Samarkand positioned as a key destination, he added.
Highlighting Samarkand as the “pearl of the Silk Road”, Gadoev said, the city has long served as a central hub connecting trade routes from east to west and is now being developed as a major tourism and investment destination.
Among key attractions is the newly renovated Imam al-Bukhari complex, opened to the public on March 19, which is expected to draw more international visitors, including from Malaysia.
Gadoev said Uzbekistan is positioning itself as an attractive destination for Malaysian investors, supported by ongoing economic reforms and pro-business policies.
Since 2017, the country has implemented large-scale reforms to improve the investment climate, including a single-window system that allows businesses to obtain approvals, open bank accounts and resolve agency matters within two to three working days, and commence operations within about one week.
Uzbekistan’s GDP reached US$147 billion (RM593 billion) in 2025, growing 7.7% from about US$60 billion before 2017, supported by stronger foreign investment inflows, which rose from about US$3.3 billion to US$43 billion last year.
He said Uzbekistan offers favourable tax conditions, including exemptions on income, property, water usage and land taxes for three to 10 years or more in special economic zones, depending on investment size starting from US$300,000 and extending beyond 10 years for investments exceeding US$15 million.
“Uzbekistan is also rich in natural resources, with mineral reserves valued at over US$3 trillion and all elements of the Mendeleev chemical table present, allowing businesses to source raw materials domestically.”
Currently, 47 Malaysian companies are operating in Uzbekistan, up from about 30 two years ago, with more than 17 established in the past two years and the number continuing to grow.
He said Uzbekistan’s strategic location and developed transport infrastructure provide access to more than 120 million consumers in Central Asia, including Afghanistan, and over 300 million across the CIS region.
He added that more than 20 hotel and tourism-related projects in the Samarkand region are seeking Malaysian investors, as the city positions itself as a key historical and tourism hub along the Silk Road.
The projects include hospitality developments and supporting infrastructure to accommodate rising visitor arrivals and expand tourism capacity.
“The Uzbekistan embassy in Kuala Lumpur is ready to facilitate business engagements, including investor linkages and partnerships, and support Malaysian tourism operators in developing travel offerings to Samarkand,” he said.
Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) deputy CEO (export acceleration) S. Jai Shankar urged businesses to deepen engagement to scale bilateral trade from the current US$100 million to the billions.
He said bilateral trade expanded by 26.4% to about US$100 million in 2025, from US$80 million in 2024, while Malaysian exports rose 27% to US$109 million.
“Uzbekistan is positioning itself as a gateway to Central Asia, offering access to more than 120 million consumers and over 300 million across the CIS, supported by evolving trade routes as land and rail connectivity regain importance.”
Jai Shankar said Malaysia sees Uzbekistan as one of its key partners in accessing the Central Asian market, as shifting global conditions prompt countries to rethink trade relationships.
