Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The global fast-food restaurant chain Burger King will begin operations in Uzbekistan in the coming months. This was announced by the founder of the beverage company International Beverages Tashkent, Shukhrat Ergashov, during a meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

On April 18, Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting dedicated to mitigating the effects of global economic turbulence on Uzbekistan. During the meeting, Shukhrat Ergashov informed the head of state that, ten years ago, local companies actively sought to attract Burger King and McDonald’s to the Uzbek market.

"Today, we have reached an agreement and obtained a license for Uzbekistan. Within the next 2–3 months, restaurants of brands such as Burger King will open in our country. And this is not only for Tashkent. We have been offered to open the central office in the capital and grant a license for all of Central Asia," said the businessman.

He further noted that foreign investors often look to the presence of brands like Burger King and McDonald’s when entering new markets. "For them, this is an important signal that encourages investment," Shukhrat Ergashov emphasized, receiving wishes of success in his business from the president.

In March, it was announced that the Verney Capital group had sold the exclusive Burger King franchise in Kazakhstan, which it had held since 2012 in partnership with Anuar Utemuratov. The buyer was Holten Group, one of the founders of International Beverages Tashkent (holding a 0.1% share). The second owner of the company is Holten Enterprise, which owns 99.9%.

International Beverages Tashkent produces Pepsi, Mirinda, Mountain Dew, 7Up, Adrenaline Rush, and Lipton beverages in Uzbekistan. In 2019, the state offered to sell its stake in this enterprise, and in 2022, the Antimonopoly Committee approved the purchase of 99.9% of the shares by the Emirati company Holten Enterprise Holdings.