CAEx Food & HoReCa and the Association of Chefs of Uzbekistan Sign Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation

The two organisations will join forces in preparation for the 3rd International CAEx Food & HoReCa Exhibition and plan to jointly organise an international chefs’ contest.

On 10 August 2026, Central Asian Expo Uzbekistan (CAEx) and the Association of Chefs of Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation. The partnership is part of the preparations for the 3rd International CAEx Food & HoReCa Exhibition, which will take place in Tashkent from 4 to 6 February 2027.

One of the key areas of cooperation will be the joint organisation of an international chefs’ competition as part of CAEx Food & HoReCa 2027. The competition is expected to bring together professional chefs from Uzbekistan and other countries, providing a platform to showcase culinary expertise, exchange professional knowledge and experience, and strengthen international connections within the industry.

For Uzbek culinary professionals, the competition will offer an opportunity to showcase their skills to an international professional audience, exchange experience with colleagues from other countries, and highlight the potential of contemporary Uzbek cuisine on the global stage. For international participants, it will provide an opportunity to connect with Uzbekistan’s professional chefs’ community and discover the country’s rich gastronomic traditions.

As part of the Memorandum, the two organisations also plan to jointly develop the exhibition’s business programme and engage members of the international chefs’ community.

Akbar Umarov, Chairman of the Association of Chefs of Uzbekistan, said that the partnership with CAEx opens up new opportunities to promote Uzbek culinary arts beyond the country’s borders: “I sincerely hope that this cooperation will help us promote Uzbek culinary arts not only in our own country, but around the world.”

According to Akbar Umarov, CAEx brings together professionals from different countries and regions of Uzbekistan, creating favourable conditions for professional exchange and contributing to the development of gastronomic tourism.

“I believe our cooperation will bring meaningful and positive changes to our sector. I hope that together we can make a significant contribution to the development of Uzbek cuisine and promote our culinary arts around the world,” the Chairman of the Association added.

Mehmet Dukkanci, Chief Operating Officer of CAEx Uzbekistan, in turn, emphasised the close connection between the development of gastronomy and culinary arts and the country’s tourism potential.

“At CAEx, we strive to make all of the exhibitions we organise beneficial to Uzbekistan and contribute to the development of its tourism sector. In this context, gastronomy and cuisine are among the most important areas of tourism,” said Mehmet Dukkanci.

According to him, the international chefs’ competition, organised jointly with the Association of Chefs of Uzbekistan, will be one of the highlights of the upcoming exhibition.

“We hope that this cooperation will help CAEx Food & HoReCa become a significant professional platform contributing to the development of tourism in Uzbekistan, as well as the advancement of culinary arts and the chef profession. We are committed to providing all the necessary support,” Mehmet Dukkanci emphasised.

The partnership between CAEx Uzbekistan and the Association of Chefs of Uzbekistan will be one of the key elements of the preparations for CAEx Food & HoReCa 2027 — a professional platform bringing together food and equipment manufacturers and suppliers, hospitality and restaurant businesses, HoReCa professionals, chefs, restaurateurs and industry experts.

CAEx Food & HoReCa 2027 will take place in Tashkent from 4 to 6 February 2027.