Over 350 participants from across the globe gathered at the Central Asia Air Cargo Summit #2, turning Tashkent into a vibrant hub of air cargo dialogue, innovation, and strategic vision. The event brought together leading airlines, cargo operators, airport authorities, freight forwarders, regulators, tech companies, and investors.
The two-day program featured five in-depth sessions, a startup showcase, an exhibition zone, and a guided tour of the UzCargo cargo terminal, Uzbekistan’s newest logistics facility. Discussions covered everything from infrastructure development and digital transformation to supply chain resilience and fleet expansion.
Highlights of the Event
Transformative Growth in Central Asia
The summit kicked off with a strong focus on the liberalization of air transport in Central Asia, where aviation markets across the region are experiencing sustained double-digit growth. Uzbekistan, in particular, was spotlighted as one of Asia’s fastest-growing aviation sectors, driven by economic growth, infrastructure investment, and the emergence of private airlines.
Opening remarks were delivered by:
Ÿ Shavkat Khalitov, Deputy Head, Air Transport Department, Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan
Ÿ Nazim Shaymardanov, Director, UzCargo, Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport
Leading Speakers & Keynotes
Among the standout speakers:
* Rizwan Siddiqui, IATA — The Role of Central Asia in the Global Air Cargo Network
* Thomas Kowitzki, DHL Global Forwarding — Enhancing Connectivity Through Resilient Supply Chains
* Aida Issayeva, FedEx – EMEX’s View: Creating a Resilient Supply Chain Amid Global Disruptions
* Hamdi Osman, SolitAir Holding — Leveraging Dubai’s Strategic Location in Global Trade
* Vikram Vohra, Saudia Cargo — Scaling for Growth in Asia Pacific
* Parvinder Singh, Hans Infomatic — Digitally Connected Airports & Smart Terminal Management
* Vitaly Andreev, My Freighter — Infrastructure Development and Operational Efficiency
* Ilya Kuznetsov, Cargoport International – Digital Air Cargo Hub
Panel discussions and roundtables included representatives from:
* Turkish Airlines Cargo
* Lufthansa Cargo
* Atlas Air
* Chapman Freeborn
* UzCargo
* Navoi International Airport
* Vietjet Qazaqstan
* Freightos Group
* Fly Khiva
* And many others.
Sessions & Key Themes
* Global Air Cargo Trends — Opportunities and challenges in an evolving market
* Driving Efficiency in Air Cargo — New tools and strategies
* Digital Innovations — From paperless cargo to AI-powered tracking
* Infrastructure Development — Filling the gaps to support growth
* Startup Innovation — Tech-driven solutions to industry bottlenecks
Exhibition & Terminal Tour
The exhibition featured participation from the following companies: UTC Operations, Air Cargo Update, Uzbekistan Airports, Hans Infomatic, Solitair, Cargoport, UTC Operations, Qanot Shark, and Fly Khiva.
Participants had the opportunity to visit the UzCargo terminal at Tashkent International Airport — a modern, high-capacity facility designed to meet growing demand for international cargo handling.
Sponsors and Partners
This year’s event was proudly supported by: Hans Infomatic, UZCargo, Qanot Sharq Airlines, UTC Operations, SolitAir Holding, Jetex Flight Support, Cargopоrt, Malakut Insurance Brokers, Apogee, Aviation & Forwarding Solutions, Fly Khiva, and Turkish Airlines.
We also thank our media partners, including: Air Cargo Week, Central Asia + Aero, Logistic Insider, Cargo Trends, Cargo Insights, STAT, Air Cargo Update, Cargo Talk, Cargo Newswire, APACE Digital Cargo, Asia Cargo News, Airline Suppliers, Airport Suppliers, Kursiv, Tashkent Sky News, MRO Business Today, Aerospace LAD, Aviaspotting_Uzb, UFO Freight.
By the Numbers
- 350+ participants
- 25+ countries represented
- 5 content tracks
- 15+ keynote speakers
- 1 new terminal showcased
Looking Ahead
The summit concluded with a clear sense of momentum. Organisers ATO COMM, a Slovenia-based aviation events company, confirmed that the third edition of the Central Asia Air Cargo Summit will take place on September 30–October 1, 2026.With growing interest from both regional stakeholders and global heavyweights, Central Asia is shaping up as aviation’s next frontier.
Why Central Asia is Rising in Air Cargo
Strategic Location: A crossroads for trade linking Europe, China, South Asia, and the Middle East.Fast Growth: Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are recording double-digit growth in cargo volumes.Infrastructure Push: Major investments in cargo terminals and airports, including Tashkent and Navoi.Policy Support: Liberalization and private sector participation are creating fertile ground for expansion.
