How Nozimjon Gaybulloev is developing the tourism potential of his country and making beverages produced in Uzbekistan globally recognizable.
Nozimjon Gaybulloev is one of the entrepreneurs who make a significant contribution to the development of Uzbekistan's economy. He creates new jobs, generates tax revenue, contributes to societal well-being and implements projects that become leaders in their industries.
Before launching his own ventures, Nozimjon built a career in the banking sector, rising from a junior employee to deputy branch manager at the National Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan in just a few years. His banking experience not only made him a financial professional but also provided ideas for his own business. For instance, he identified a shortage of high-quality packaging materials, which led to the creation of a packaging production enterprise. The project began 14 years ago.
— Initially, we considered starting from scratch, but ultimately decided to acquire an existing workshop that only produced shrink caps at the time, — says the entrepreneur.
— We significantly upgraded the equipment, automated processes, and restructured the team. We expanded our product range to include aluminum caps, various sealing stoppers, self-adhesive labels, corrugated boxes, and packaging films. Today, Rubber Plast Pharm has an annual turnover of around $20 million, producing hundreds of millions of items annually.
Under Nozimjon’s leadership, the factory has become Central Asia's largest packaging materials producer, with sales volumes increasing 100-fold. He attributes this success to two factors: innovation and customer-centric approach. Thanks to its wide product range, manufacturers no longer need to source packaging materials from multiple suppliers—everything can be done at one facility. The factory not only operates production lines but also employs a team of designers who create attractive packaging designs. Nozimjon often receives gratitude from clients, as products with his packaging become recognizable and see increased sales.
Among Rubber Plast Pharm’s clients are Toshkentvino, Central Asia’s largest producer of wine and spirits, and several other notable beverage manufacturers in Uzbekistan.
Additionally, Nozimjon has established partnerships with major industry players across the CIS, including Siyoma, a leading bottled water producer in Tajikistan; Yuzhny Winery in Kazakhstan; Alcomir, a prominent beverage producer in Kyrgyzstan; and Diamond Glass, a major packaging manufacturer from the same country. The company also collaborates closely with beverage producers in Turkmenistan (such as the well-known brand Konul) and Azerbaijan (Gumus-T Trade Group, a wine and spirits producer).
Entering the international market was a challenging task, — admits Nozimjon.
— The beverage producers we approached already had reliable suppliers. However, through our interactions, we managed to convince them of our product quality, competitivepricing, and superior service. As a result, many chose to work with us.
Another of Nozimjon’s projects, crucial for fostering Uzbekistan’s international relations, is in the tourism sector. Over the past few years, he has developed the Garnet Hotel and Garnet Mir Hotel in Tashkent, responding to the growing interest in Uzbekistan from foreign visitors.
— In 2016-2017, when we decided to build these hotels, Uzbekistan faced a critical shortage of quality accommodations. While a few international hotel chains were present, it wasn’t enough. Since then, tourist inflows to Uzbekistan have increased fivefold. Our project has helped strengthen the country’s infrastructure and enabled hundreds of thousands of tourists to discover Uzbekistan, — says the entrepreneur. —
Although our hotels are small, with only 50 rooms each, and classified as three-star, their interiors, restaurants, and service level rival five-star hotels. I’m pleased that our guests often highlight this in their reviews.
To earn tourists’ recognition, it’s not enough to simply build a hotel with pleasant interiors and all necessary amenities. The team must work cohesively and constantlyenhance service quality. To achieve this, Nozimjon consistently implements innovative solutions.
For example, the hotels have been using a digital booking management system for several years. It allows real-time room availability adjustments and integration with major online booking platforms. To automate feedback analysis, special programs collect guest reviews from various platforms and route them to a dedicated team—this approach helps quickly identify areas for improvement. Additionally, CRM systems are used to create personalized offers and promotions for returning guests.
Each year, around 60,000 tourists stay at Garnet Hotel and Garnet Mir Hotel, including independent travellers and participants in major international events taking place in Tashkent. For instance, the hotels have hosted forums organized by the Youth AffairsAgency of Uzbekistan, bringing together dozens of talented young people from across the country. They have also accommodated dozens of participants in business forums and sports competitions from CIS countries.
Nozimjon Gaybulloev has launched other successful projects as well, including the startup XMed. This service allows residents of Uzbekistan to consult with practicing doctors from the comfort of their homes. Nozimjon actively shares his experience with other entrepreneurs. For example, he recently served on the jury of the Global Startup Awards Africa, evaluating startups in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and ecology.
Nozimjon takes pride in his contribution to Uzbekistan’s economic development and in creating jobs for his fellow citizens:
— For a long time, our citizens had to seek work in other CIS countries. But in recent years, Uzbekistan has seen more opportunities for stable, decent income, partly thanks to our projects. Currently, over 600 people work at Nozimjon’s companies, including more than 500 at the packaging materials factory and around 70 at the hotels. In the coming years, we will continue to create many more jobs.