Purpose: This article analyzes the role of economic diplomacy as the primary catalyst for Uzbekistan's enhanced regional influence in Central Asia since 2016. It seeks to evaluate how targeted policies in trade, infrastructure, and energy have enabled Uzbekistan to transition from a historically isolationist state to a central actor in regional cooperation.

Design/methodology/approach: The study employs a qualitative research design based on a systematic analysis of policy documents, government publications, and reports from major international institutions, including the World Bank, IMF, ADB, and the United Nations. It assesses Uzbekistan's growing influence through key indicators: trade volume growth, leadership in connectivity projects, and cooperative energy diplomacy.

Findings: The results demonstrate that Uzbekistan's proactive economic diplomacy has yielded significant returns. Key findings show that economic liberalization is strongly associated with an improved investment climate (IMF, 2020; WEF, 2020). Furthermore, Uzbekistan has spearheaded efforts to boost regional trade (ESCAP, 2020), championed critical infrastructure projects to enhance connectivity (World Bank, 2021), and adopted a cooperative stance on shared energy and water resources (ADB, 2020). These initiatives have collectively elevated its status as a constructive regional leader. However, internal bureaucratic inefficiencies remain a notable challenge (Gorbachev & Abdullayev, 2020).

Research limitations/implications: The study is limited by its reliance on publicly available data and the relatively recent timeline of the policy shifts, meaning the full geopolitical impact is still emerging. Future research should focus on quantitative analysis of trade data and case studies of specific infrastructure projects.

Practical implications: The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers in Central Asia and beyond, illustrating a successful model for leveraging economic statecraft to foster regional stability and achieve foreign policy goals.

Originality/value: This article provides a comprehensive, evidence-based synthesis of Uzbekistan's contemporary foreign policy, offering a nuanced understanding of how economic diplomacy is actively reshaping the geopolitical landscape of Central Asia.