Uzbekistan’s Samarkand in Running to Host International Astronautical Congress

Uzbekistan is bidding to host the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in 2028, with the historic city of Samarkand proposed as the venue.

The IAC is one of the world’s largest and most influential space industry forums, annually attracting around 10,000 industry leaders, executives of major aerospace companies, and representatives of leading scientific institutions, The Caspian Post reports per Uzbek media.

Beyond serving as a hub for knowledge exchange, the congress is seen as a catalyst for attracting investment to the host nation.

In recent years, the congress has been held in Milan (2024), Baku (2023), Paris (2022), Dubai (2021), Washington (2019), Bremen (2018), and Adelaide (2017), each time leaving a lasting legacy - from the creation of national space agencies to the launch of interplanetary missions.

Uzcosmos, Uzbekistan’s national space agency, believes hosting the event would help draw foreign investment for building research centers, technology parks, and business incubators, while fostering joint scientific research and supporting the growth of space-related startups.

Christian Feichtinger, Executive Director of the International Astronautical Federation, has already toured Samarkand and Tashkent to review infrastructure, assess safety and event-hosting capabilities, and meet with government officials.

The initiative is backed by the presidential decree “On Measures to Introduce Aerospace Technologies in Economic Sectors for 2024-2026”, which provides the legal framework for advancing Uzbekistan’s aerospace ambitions.