A public-private partnership (PPP) agreement for the modernisation and management of Urgench International Airport was signed in Tashkent on October 15, 2025 between Uzbekistan Airports, Urgench International Airport, and Incheon International Airport Corporation of South Korea. The deal follows an international tender launched last year.
The signing ceremony was attended by Javlonbek Umarhodjaev, Chair of the Board of Uzbekistan Airports, Lee Hak Jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, and Oybek Matkarimov, Director of Urgench International Airport. Event was chaired by Uzbekistan’s Minister of Transport Ilkhom Makhkamov.
«Cooperation with Incheon International Airport Corporation opens a new chapter in the development of Uzbekistan’s airport infrastructure,» said Umarhodjaev. «The experience of our South Korean partners in managing one of the world’s best airports will provide a solid foundation for introducing advanced technologies, improving passenger services, and strengthening our country’s transit potential.»
Strategic Partnership to Enhance Aviation Infrastructure
Under the PPP agreement, the private partner will oversee the construction and management of passenger and cargo terminals, including ground handling operations, while the state partner will be responsible for the aerodrome complex, encompassing the runway and apron.
The project follows the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, with the tender launched on August 1, 2024. The initiative is being implemented jointly by Uzbekistan Airports, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
In April 2025, Incheon International Airport Corporation was officially declared the winner. The corporation manages Incheon International Airport in Seoul — South Korea’s main aviation hub and one of the largest transport gateways in Northeast Asia.
Incheon Airport consistently ranks among the world’s top 10 airports for efficiency and passenger traffic, handling more than 80 mln passengers in 2024.
