Malaysia Airlines' (MAS) air freight unit, Malaysia Airlines Cargo (MASkargo), is establishing a freight hub in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, to tap the fast-growing cargo business in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The hub is expected to take over the functions of its existing Dubai hub. However, it will maintain its other hubs in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Melbourne and Shanghai.

MASkargo already started a twice-weekly freighter service to Tashkent from July 1 this year.

"We are finalising talks with Air Uzbekistan, which will act as our ground handler there. Air Uzbekistan will assist us in developing the market in the CIS," MASkargo newly-appointed managing director Shahari Sulaiman said.