Global FDI Rises as Uzbekistan Leads Central Asia in Green Energy Investments
Global foreign direct investment showed resilience in 2025, climbing 6% to reach $1.6 trln globally despite geopolitical tensions and trade policy uncertainty.
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development World Investment Report 2026, this growth masks underlying fragilities and stark disparities across regions. While developed economies saw an 11% surge in inflows, developing economies recorded a modest 2% increase to just above $901 bn. Amid this uneven global recovery, Central Asia emerged as a regional bright spot.
Foreign direct investment in Central Asia increased from $4 bn to $5 bn in 2025. This regional growth was driven primarily by resource-based and infrastructure investments, with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan leading the charge.
A shift towards strategic sectors
The UNCTAD report highlights that global investment expansion was largely driven by a small number of megaprojects in capital-intensive sectors. Artificial intelligence infrastructure, semiconductors, critical minerals and clean energy now represent almost half of all announced greenfield projects.
However, the distribution of these strategic investments remains heavily skewed. Low-income and lower-middle-income economies captured only about 10 per cent of greenfield investment in strategic sectors. Many developing nations struggle to match the deep pockets and established ecosystems of larger economies that are deploying active industrial policies and subsidies.
In addition to energy and digital infrastructure, the global investor landscape has become notably more diverse. State-owned multinational enterprises and private equity investors are playing an increasingly prominent role in cross-border transactions. More than a quarter of the companies in the UNCTAD top 100 multinational enterprises ranking are now State-owned.
Despite broader challenges for developing nations, Uzbekistan has successfully navigated the turbulent investment landscape by securing large-scale international capital for its infrastructure.
Green energy fuels Uzbekistan’s growth
The global shift towards energy transition technologies has provided a vital entry point for developing economies seeking to attract foreign capital. The UNCTAD report notes that investment in sectors related to the Sustainable Development Goals picked up in 2025.
Uzbekistan stands out in this regard. The country has successfully leveraged its renewable energy potential to draw significant international financing. According to the report, Uzbekistan attracted major wind and solar commitments from Chinese and Saudi Arabian investors.
These renewable energy projects underscore a broader trend within landlocked developing countries, where foreign direct investment is increasingly directed towards clean energy, transport corridors and logistics.
As global supply chains continue to reconfigure along geopolitical lines, UNCTAD emphasizes that developing economies must identify realistic entry points to harness international investment. Uzbekistan’s ability to attract substantial foreign commitments in the renewable energy sector demonstrates how targeted policy choices can successfully turn global economic shifts into domestic development opportunities.
