The economy grew by 6 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, reversing five consecutive quarters of negative growth linked to the imposition of restrictions owing to COVID-19.

SOFAZ sovereign wealth oil fund holds proceeds from oil contracts, oil and gas sales, transit fees and other revenue.

Uzbekistan, a double-landlocked country with almost 35 million people, has been actively promoting the South and Central Asia rail link that will go through its war-torn neighbour Afghanistan, giving it access to the ports of Karachi, Gwadar and Qasim.

The company has attracted a $1.3 billion syndicated loan in the summer of 2021 and plans to repay it by 2026.