Uzbekistan announces $48bn investment programme: Uzbekistan’s Cabinet of Ministers today (January 27) unveiled plans to invest $38bn over the next five years in a total of 870 projects and a further $10bn in transport infrastructure. The investment program includes the creation of 415 new high-tech enterprises, as well as the modernisation, technical and technological renovation of 455 existing industrial enterprises dedicated to the production of export-oriented goods including textiles, polymers, hydrocarbons, electronic and electrical appliances, household chemicals and building materials. Investment in new business will focus on activities with high added value potential such as engineering, petrochemical, chemical, the textile and food industries. $10bn is also to be spent on the development of roads and railways, logistic centres and communications over the same period. Trend, AKIpress