The Uzbek government is conducting a campaign to lure labor migrants back home to work on a mega project to remake the capital, Tashkent.

Over the past week, Uzbek embassies in countries that traditionally attract large numbers of Uzbek guest workers, including Russia and Turkey, have posted notices about employment opportunities in Uzbekistan to build “New Tashkent.” The notices say that there are up to 10,000 jobs available offering competitive salaries for skilled construction workers, including electricians and masons. 

“Go back home … and have an opportunity to earn a decent income,” urges the appeal posted on Telegram by the Uzbek Embassy in Turkey.

The New Tashkent project is a planned expansion of the Uzbek capital, based on a design created by a UK-based firm Cross Works. The government gave its final approval for the plan in late 2024 and it was formally unveiled in January. 

The plan envisions the development of 25,000 acres of land capable of accommodating 2.5 million inhabitants on the outskirts of the present city between the Chirchiq and Karasu Rivers. The first phase of construction will involve a parcel of about 6,000 hectares. New Tashkent is projected to eventually house government buildings, including the presidential administration complex and ministries. It will also include a university campus, as well as cultural and retail shopping facilities.

A series of canals are incorporated into the design intended to give the new section of the city a “green Amsterdam” vibe. If built to its current specifications, Tashkent’s population would increase by roughly 50 percent to about 7.5 million. The video presentation designed by urban planners and engineers offers a beguiling glimpse of the city’s potential future. Where the money will come from to turn that vision into reality is anybody’s guess.

Government officials believe the New Tashkent can be a driver of growth for the country, which has been running up big trade deficits in recent years. Officials want to retool the economy to transform Uzbekistan into primarily an exporter of finished goods, instead of serving as a source of raw materials and natural resources.

The initiative to attract labor migrants back home to build New Tashkent fits into a government strategy, adopted in 2024, to steer Uzbeks away from seeking low-wage jobs in Russia and elsewhere, and instead ‘train-up’ workers to fill skilled labor positions, including in the European Union.