MARKET STRUCTURE · REGULATORY · CENTRAL ASIA
U.S. signs critical minerals investment framework with Uzbekistan
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The U.S. International Development Finance Corp and Uzbekistan signed a Joint Investment Framework to prioritize U.S.-backed investments across Uzbekistan’s critical-minerals value chain and propose a joint investment holding company.
Why it matters
The framework elevates Uzbekistan into a defined U.S. critical-minerals cooperation track, with DFC positioning to support projects spanning exploration through processing. The proposed U.S.–Uzbekistan Joint Investment Holding Company introduces a new vehicle that can concentrate deal flow and governance for future minerals and infrastructure projects. This can accelerate project bankability for participants aligned with the framework while tightening competitive access for non-participating bidders. The change is immediate in that it establishes an executed bilateral structure for investment prioritization, affecting how projects are financed, partnered, and sequenced.
Implications
- • New DFC-backed pathway for Uzbekistan minerals project financing
- • Potential preferential partnering via proposed joint holding company
- • Competitive access shifts for non-U.S.-aligned bidders
- • More structured pipeline for minerals-linked infrastructure projects
Who is affected
- • Critical minerals miners and processors operating in Uzbekistan
- • U.S. and international mining project developers seeking DFC financing
- • Battery, EV, and industrial buyers sourcing critical minerals
- • Infrastructure contractors tied to mining and processing buildouts
Source
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