Uzbekistan Plans to Sell Mobiuz for $300 Million
Uzbekistan is aiming to raise $300 mln through the sale of mobile operator Mobiuz, with hopes of attracting investors from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Europe, according to Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the deal.
Mobiuz currently ranks fourth in the country’s telecom market. According to research firm BMI, the company held a 20.9% market share by the end of 2024, in a national subscriber base of 35.6 mln. Last year, Mobiuz reported $164 million in revenue and $41 million in EBITDA.
The 100% stake sale is part of a broad privatisation campaign launched by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, aimed at reducing state involvement in the economy and attracting foreign investment. Uzbekistan plans to raise at least 10 trillion soums (approx. $786 mln) through asset sales in 29 major companies.
The tender for Mobiuz was announced in June, with letters of interest due by August 1. Rothschild & Co is advising on the deal.
Telecom giant Veon said it regularly reviews opportunities in Uzbekistan but did not confirm participation in the tender.
Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies (IMRS) has published its index calculations for the diversification of Uzbekistan’s fresh fruit and vegetable export geography for the period 2019–2024.
