Uzbekistan has officially released its five-year development plan for key minerals (2026-2030), planning to invest $4.2 billion in industrial projects, comprehensively attract investment to expand the mineral industry chain, and develop mining into a core economic growth engine for the country. This marks the beginning of a systematic advancement phase in the country's resource processing strategy.

The five-year plan sets clear goals, with annual projects proceeding in an orderly manner.

President Mirziyoyev has finalized the mineral development strategy, which includes 120 key mineral projects with a total investment of $4.2 billion within the planning period. The industry output targets are clear and specific: to reach $1 billion in mining output by 2028 and climb to $2 billion by 2030. This year, 12 supporting projects will be launched with an investment of $166 million, focusing on achieving mass production of selenium, tellurium, and niobium—metals previously lacking domestic production—and developing 21 import-substituting products such as automotive parts. Simultaneously, a complete tungsten and molybdenum production chain will be established. The government is also simultaneously upgrading the Chirchich "Future Metals" science and technology park, increasing investment in geological exploration, digital technology upgrades, and talent cultivation to lay a solid foundation for sustainable industrial development. Keywords:

Deep processing weaknesses need to be addressed; import substitution is imperative

Uzbekistan possesses abundant strategic mineral resources, but has long relied primarily on raw material exports, with weak deep processing capabilities. It is highly dependent on imports for high-end metals and industrial mineral components, and the economic benefits of its mineral resources have not been fully realized. Faced with the restructuring of global key mineral supply chains and the increasing emphasis on domestic self-sufficiency among countries, Uzbekistan urgently needs to improve its deep processing capacity, address product category shortcomings, reduce foreign trade costs through import substitution, and enhance the value chain profitability of its mineral industry. This five-year plan is a crucial measure to respond to this strategic need and will drive Uzbekistan's transformation from a "resource exporter" to a "mineral processing and manufacturing country." Editor/Sunyaxin