Chinese company plans to invest $500M in construction of paper factory in Samarkand

According to the Samarkand regional administration, China’s Huanrong Paper Company intends to build a modern industrial complex for the production of industrial cardboard, packaging materials, and office paper. The plans were presented during talks held late last week between the company’s management and the regional governor, Adiz Boboev.

The project is expected to be implemented in five phases, with total investment estimated at approximately $500 million. More than 50 hectares of land will be required to host the facility. The company is considering a site in the “Hishrau-2” area of Samarkand, which falls within the Urgut free economic zone.

Once operational, the plant is expected to create about 3,000 jobs and generate between $50 million and $60 million in annual tax revenues for the state budget. Company representatives noted that the facility would be the first paper and cardboard plant of this scale in Central Asia.

Regional authorities pledged comprehensive support for the project, including assistance with organizational procedures, infrastructure development, and overall project coordination.

The announcement comes amid a steady increase in Chinese investment activity in Uzbekistan. As of January 1, there were 5,044 companies operating in the country with Chinese capital, including 748 joint ventures. In 2025 alone, the number of such companies grew by 1.5 times, or 1,687 firms.