Japan unveiled a five-year goal on Saturday for business projects totaling $19 billion in Central Asia as Tokyo vies for influence in the resource-rich region.

The announcement came after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hosted an inaugural summit with the leaders of five Central Asia nations — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — in Tokyo.

Japan “set a new target of business projects at a total amount of ¥3 trillion in 5 years in Central Asia,” according to a joint statement issued after Takaichi wrapped up her meeting with the five leaders.