President of Uzbekistan Holds High-Level Talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico
Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held official talks with the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico, at the Kuksaroy residence. The meeting marked a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing multifaceted relations between the two countries.
At the outset of the talks, President Mirziyoyev emphasized that the visit by the Slovak Prime Minister represents a qualitatively new stage in Uzbekistan–Slovakia relations. He expressed satisfaction with the steady development of collaboration across political, economic, and humanitarian spheres, underscoring the establishment of a constructive political dialogue between the two nations’ foreign ministries and the intensification of business and cultural exchanges.
The parties noted a consistent increase in bilateral trade turnover. In this context, President Mirziyoyev welcomed the successful convening of the inaugural session of the Intergovernmental Commission in May and highlighted the ongoing efforts to explore new areas of cooperation and implement joint projects. Amid global challenges and an unpredictable international landscape, both sides underlined the need for systematic interaction, coordination, and mutual support between foreign ministries, particularly in the framework of partnerships with European institutions.
Discussions placed special emphasis on expanding trade volumes by diversifying mutual supplies. Uzbekistan’s exports to Slovakia include textile products, agricultural goods, electrical equipment, chemicals, and polymers. In turn, Slovakia supplies rubber products, automotive components, pharmaceuticals, and various industrial goods to Uzbekistan.
The leaders stressed the importance of removing technical barriers to trade through the implementation of agreements on technical regulation and metrology. In particular, they noted the significance of launching a quantum reference laboratory as a practical step forward.
A key outcome of the talks was the agreement to develop a Comprehensive Program of Industrial Cooperation involving leading Slovak companies. This program will encompass projects in the agro-industrial sector, localization of automotive parts, pharmaceutical manufacturing, as well as initiatives in green energy and tourism. Both sides also recognized the untapped potential in digital innovation and startup investments, with Uzbekistan proposing the establishment of a joint venture fund to support IT startups.
To support these initiatives, the leaders agreed on the broad application of available financial instruments for the implementation of joint projects.
In the humanitarian domain, both parties reaffirmed their interest in expanding academic and educational exchanges. They reached an agreement to launch joint research programs, including partnerships with Comenius University in Bratislava. The two sides also committed to adopting a Cooperation Program in Culture, covering mutual exhibitions, film screenings, concerts, and collaborative museum initiatives.
Labor migration was another key issue discussed, with the Slovak side expressing strong interest in establishing structured cooperation in this area. The leaders also exchanged views on a number of international and regional issues, affirming their commitment to mutual support on multilateral platforms.
Concluding the meeting, President Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Fico agreed that the governments of Uzbekistan and Slovakia would jointly develop and adopt a comprehensive roadmap to ensure the timely and effective execution of the agreements and decisions reached during the visit.
