PPP Feasibility Study and NBO for the Development of a National Food Safety and Hygiene Certification System in Uzbekistan

The Development of Food Safety and Hygiene Training Centers in Uzbekistan is a comprehensive public-private partnership (PPP) initiative between the Government of Uzbekistan and Al Arkkan, a Saudi-based investment and training company with extensive experience in food safety education and certification. The primary objective of this project is to establish a national ecosystem of standardized training, certification, medical examination, and inspection services across the food and consumer-facing sectors. The initiative responds to Uzbekistan’s growing needs in public health, labor market formalization, and tourism sector development.

This initiative was led by Al Arkkan Training Company and supported by financial advisory services from Synergy Consulting, with SavvY providing research and technical assistance as a subcontractor. The project was structured under two major phases: a feasibility study and the preparation of a Non-Binding Offer (NBO) to be submitted to the government. The feasibility study explored demand, operational design, financial modeling, legal structuring, and strategic alignment with national policies such as Uzbekistan Vision 2030.

Al Arkkan, a subsidiary of the Al Muhaidib Group, is a leader in food safety and public health training in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. With more than 50 operational centers and over 1.4 million individuals certified in food safety, Al Arkkan brings both scale and credibility to this cross-national initiative, seeking to replicate its successful training model in Uzbekistan through a PPP framework.

How We Helped

SavvY and Synergy Consulting collaborated to deliver the full suite of advisory and research services necessary for a robust feasibility assessment. Our scope included:

• A comprehensive market study, analyzing national workforce demographics, food industry segmentation, training demand, and price sensitivity. This included primary research with 300+ professionals across Uzbekistan.
• Development of a demand model and training center distribution plan, projecting the need for 37 training and 37 testing centers across all major regions.
• Design of an operational model, including staffing needs, medical integration, inspection protocols, and IT platform requirements.
• Preparation of a financial model, covering CAPEX, OPEX, revenue forecasts, break-even analysis, and potential fiscal benefits to the government.
• Drafting of risk assessments and mitigation strategies, aligned with international food safety compliance frameworks.
• Assistance in preparing the Non-Binding Offer (NBO), outlining the project structure, financial terms, and legal provisions to be negotiated with the Government of Uzbekistan.

SavvY’s research and analysis directly informed the strategic direction of the project, while Synergy Consulting led financial structuring and engagement with the client. Al Arkkan provided the baseline training framework based on its Saudi operations, while the project team tailored it to Uzbekistan’s specific socio-economic and regulatory context.

Impact and Potential

This project has the potential to revolutionize food safety and hygiene standards across Uzbekistan. It is expected to:

• Formalize employment for up to 600,000 currently informal workers through mandatory certification and health checks.
• Create over 1,300 new jobs across 35+ regional centers, including positions for trainers, medical staff, and administrators.
• Generate over USD 135 million in revenue over 10 years from training, certification, and medical examination services—while reducing foodborne illness and strengthening public health.
• Enhance Uzbekistan’s competitiveness in tourism and trade by aligning food safety practices with international standards such as Codex Alimentarius and HACCP.
• Support Uzbekistan’s WTO accession and economic modernization by improving compliance, enforcement, and public confidence in hygiene-sensitive industries.

The Ministry of Health and Al Arkkan Company are in the discussion to cooperate on the project “Creating an Integrated National Food Security and Health Protection System” in Tashkent and Fergana cities. The feasibility study and Non-Binding Offer submitted to the government provide a clear, data-driven roadmap for implementation. The PPP structure guarantees public oversight and long-term sustainability of this initiative.