Han Ilhan, Strategic Advisor in the mining sector, noted a qualitative shift in U.S. – Uzbekistan relations in the field of critical raw materials (CRM) in his recent commentary.

According to him, recent senior-level outreach in the United States “catalyzed the right meetings”, while President Shavkat Mirziyoyev “matched it with clear commitment: predictable pathways, coordinated agencies, and a designated deputy minister to drive delivery”. Ilhan stressed that “quick results” are visible in multiple high-level agreements with U.S. companies – marking a transition “from talk to build”.

He also highlighted the readiness of TMK (Uzbekistan Technological Metals Complex) to scale “the full value chain – upstream mines to midstream metal hubs located in a special economic zone to further attract investment for downstream end-product manufacturing”, calling these developments “extremely positive steps toward a long-term CRM partnership”.

TMK (Uzbekistan Technological Metals Complex) is positioning itself as a key driver in building a comprehensive value chain for critical raw materials (CRMs) – from geological exploration and mining to processing and end-product manufacturing. According to the company, its current portfolio comprises more than 25 types of critical materials and over 70 projects nationwide, as well as the development of metal hubs in special economic zones to attract investment in downstream production.

Han Ilhan is a recognized top executive in the mining and natural resources sector, with experience across the full lifecycle of deposits: from project financing and feasibility studies to construction, operations, and reclamation. He specializes in project finance, partnerships, and risk management, has raised capital through a wide range of instruments (including debt, offtake, and royalties), and has worked with financial institutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. He is currently Managing Director at Catalis Strategies and an Advisor to TMK.

Ilhan’s assessment underscores that pragmatism and coordinated leadership from Washington and Tashkent are shifting the CRM agenda from dialogue to implementation, already reflected in a series of agreements with U.S. companies and the establishment of predictable procedures with designated government-level responsibility. This aligns with Uzbekistan’s course toward becoming a hub in the global CRM value chain, a trend also noted by industry publications.

Abduaziz Khidirov, UzA