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The Czech company Skoda Group plans to establish a joint venture for assembling railway transport in Uzbekistan, the company’s press service announced. The initiative was discussed during a roundtable meeting between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and leading European business executives held in Belgium on October 24 as part of the Uzbek leader’s official visit. Skoda Group CEO Petr Novotny called the Central Asian market “promising” and outlined the company’s strategic plan to enter Uzbekistan through the creation of a joint venture, supported by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank. According to Skoda Group, the planned joint venture will focus on three main areas: Local assembly of railway vehicles;Maintenance and repair of rolling stock throughout its operational life;Establishment of the Skoda Academy to train and upskill local specialists. “Each of the three areas represents a concrete step towards fulfilling the new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the European Global Gateway strategy,” said Novotny. During the visit, representatives of Skoda Group held talks with Uzbekistan’s Minister of Transport Ilhom Mahkamov to discuss future cooperation in the railway and urban transport sectors. President Mirziyoyev praised the company’s contribution to Uzbekistan’s transport modernization efforts, particularly in introducing European technologies and expertise, and expressed full support for Skoda Group’s long-term presence in the country. The initiative builds on existing cooperation between the two sides. In October 2023, Uzbekistan Railways and Skoda Group signed a €320mn contract for the supply of 30 electric trains, the largest deal ever won by the Czech company in Uzbekistan.
