Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan Hold 13th Joint Intergovernmental Commission Session
Bukhara, The Gulf Observer: The 13th session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan took place in Bukhara, chaired by Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The meeting saw the participation of heads of relevant ministries and departments, as well as sectoral associations from both nations. Attendees reviewed the current state and future prospects of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in priority sectors.
In 2023, trade between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan surged by 26.5%, reaching USD 231.6 million. Currently, 236 enterprises with Azerbaijani capital operate in Uzbekistan, including 62 joint ventures and 174 enterprises with 100% foreign capital. Conversely, 70 Uzbek companies are active in Azerbaijan.
The commission discussed measures to elevate mutual trade volumes to USD 1 billion. Key strategies include import substitution based on demand analysis, conducting regular trade and business missions, and organizing reciprocal exhibitions of national products in major cities.
Prospective industries identified for cooperation include projects for the production of silk products, the creation of a textile cluster, the construction of an international school, and the organization of food production. Additionally, new areas of cooperation were identified in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, construction materials, energy, petrochemicals, agriculture, and tourism.
Special emphasis was placed on diversifying transport corridors and creating logistics infrastructure to increase bilateral and transit freight volumes. The commission also discussed measures to enhance interregional cooperation, noting the establishment of twin city relations between Gulistan and Fuzuli, Namangan and Mingachevir, Termez and Bilasuvar, with ongoing efforts in this direction.
The session concluded with the adoption of a final protocol, which reflected the agreements reached, identified responsible leaders, and set deadlines for the implementation of the outlined tasks.
