VIDEO | Building green cities: KOC Construction’s investment-led approach in Uzbekistan - Trade Treasury Payments

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At the Tashkent International Investment Forum, Trade Treasury Payments (TTP) spoke with Izzet Gormez, Senior Project Development and Investment Executive at KOC Construction, to discuss the company’s unique development model, local economic contribution, and approach to sustainability in Uzbekistan’s growing urban centres.

Gormez, a civil engineer originally from Istanbul, has been working on large-scale infrastructure and development projects across the CIS for over three decades. Today, much of his focus is on Tashkent, where KOC Construction has made major investments in real estate and mixed-use developments.

Gormez said, “We’re currently building one of our milestone projects, very visible from the airport. It’s a mixed-use building with residential, office, retail, and hotel components, about 160,000 square metres in total. It’s entirely our own investment.”

Founded 55 years ago, KOC Construction began as a general contracting and MEP company before expanding internationally. The company has executed major projects in Turkey, Libya, and Russia, and in the past eight years has become a prominent real estate investor and developer in Uzbekistan. Unlike many international contractors, KOC maintains full ownership over its projects and engages heavily in the local economy.

Gormez explained, “We’ve taken a different approach here. We act both as EPC contractor and as real estate developer. Most of our workforce of over 6,000 people is local. That includes engineers, architects, and labourers. We also try to minimise imports and instead work with what’s available in the market, using local suppliers and helping to build up the construction sector.”

That approach has clear implications for economic development and skills transfer. But it also supports the company’s sustainability ambitions. In a region grappling with urban air pollution, KOC is working to incorporate environmentally responsible design and construction practices.

Gormez said, “Our engineering team is focused on using sustainable materials. We’re working toward LEED certification, which is becoming increasingly important in Uzbekistan. For the people living in our buildings, we also build green areas like sports trails, outdoor space, and facilities that support a natural, healthy lifestyle.”

That emphasis on local impact and sustainability was one of the reasons KOC chose to sponsor the Tashkent International Investment Forum, now in its second year. The event has attracted growing interest from foreign investors, multilateral institutions, and international consultants exploring opportunities in the Uzbek market.

“We were excited from the start,” said Gormez. “This forum has brought in a lot of foreign interest. We’re seeing new players coming in, just like we did eight years ago, and I believe many of them will stay. With continued government support and cooperation, Uzbekistan has a lot of room to grow. We’re ready to support that development.”