Wildberries plans to open first distribution center in Uzbekistan in 2026, with two more to follow

TASHKENT. April 16 (Interfax) - Wildberries marketplace confirms its intention to open its first large distribution center in the Tashkent region of Uzbekistan, but the deadline has shifted by a year.

"Plans for creating a distribution center in Uzbekistan have not changed and are unlikely to. Firstly, Uzbekistan has a very large market from the consumer standpoint. Secondly, the task is to attract not so much consumers as producers," General Director Tatyana Bakalchuk said at a press conference in Tashkent.

Wildberries representative in the republic Sardor Kadyrov said that the distribution center in the Tashkent region is planned for launch before 2026, whereas in October 2023, he said that the marketplace intended to build the center by the end of 2024.

"This is a non-standard project. It is being prepared specifically for Uzbekistan; we have completed pre-construction preparations, and are now finalizing all the parameters," Kadyrov said on Tuesday, when asked about the adjustment made to the project's timing.

Construction of the center could take 7-8 months, he said.

"In addition to the Tashkent region, the company is also considering the possibility of building two more centers in the country's regions. They will be full-fledged trade and logistics complexes that will offer a full range of marketplace services," Kadyrov said.

Wildberries estimates that the investment in the construction of a distribution center in the Tashkent region could total about $140 million.