Uzbekistan may refuse the Russian Novaport to reconstruct airports in the country

Negotiations of the Russian holding Novaport and the authorities of Uzbekistan on the reconstruction of several airports are at an impasse. The Uzbek government is not ready to give them a concession for 30 years, as requested by the investor, Kommersant writes.

The country’s authorities have already begun to search for another investor, having held a meeting with the Japanese Sumitomo Corporation in early December. 

However, Novaport has not been withdrawn from negotiations and continues to maintain interest in assets. Experts note that Japanese companies are also unlikely to agree on a short term concession.

Novaport cannot yet agree on the conditions for obtaining Uzbek airports – Samarkand, Namangan and Urgench – for concession. Reportedly, the last meeting of representatives of Novaport and the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan took place about two months ago and stalled on the concession period issue. Novaport wants to get airports for more than 30 years, with which representatives of local authorities strongly disagree.

A co-owner of AEON holding (controlled by Novaport) Roman Trotsenko assured that he has not been withdrawn from negotiations with the government of Uzbekistan: “Interest in airports remains. At the same time, the country’s authorities have the right to do with these assets what they consider possible”.