Assalamu alaikum, dear compatriots!
Dear guests!
Today, we celebrate the thirty-fifth anniversary of the independence of our sacred homeland with great pride and solemnity.
I sincerely congratulate our dear people, including our esteemed enlightened ones, our courageous youth, our honorable women, representatives of all nationalities and ethnic groups in our country, and our compatriots abroad on this day.
The fact that our greatest holiday is being held in New Tashkent further enhances the grandeur of the celebration.
In this region, which will become a center of science, education, and culture in the future, we recently inaugurated the magnificent buildings of the New Uzbekistan University, the Nizami Ganjavi National Pedagogical University of Uzbekistan, and the National Library of Uzbekistan.
The fact that the fountain that will be opened with your participation today is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest musical fountain in the world adds even more spirit to the festive mood.
In this unique place where centuries-old dreams are coming true, we, along with our entire people, will witness many more joyful and historic events.
I am confident that New Tashkent will become a true center of development, adding beauty to our capital and demonstrating the power of the New Uzbekistan we are building!
Dear friends!
We gained our state independence in 1991, thanks to the will and determination of our people. In fact, the roots of our great independence go back to the history of our statehood traditions and ancient civilization, which are more than three thousand years old.
During the First and Second Renaissance, our great scholars such as Muhammad Khorezmii, Ahmad Ferghani, Abu Rayhan Beruni, Abu Ali ibn Sino, Mirzo Ulugbek, and Mir Alisher Navoi enriched the treasury of human thought.
The state founded by our great-grandfather Amir Temur has a worthy place in the pages of history as a symbol of justice and creativity.
The dreams and aspirations of our great forefathers, such as Behbudi, Munavvarkori, Fitrat, Qodiriy, and Chulpon, who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the homeland and national independence, are being fully realized in New Uzbekistan today.
Independence, first of all, has returned to us our honor, our sacred religion, our native language, and our forgotten national values.
Thanks to independence, we realized our identity and demonstrated to the whole world that we are worthy successors of our ancestors, whose names are always held in high esteem.
In these emotional moments, we pay tribute to the memory of our great ancestors and martyrs who sacrificed their lives for today's free life.
On this historic date, we believe it is appropriate to once again recognize the selfless labor and courage of all our deceased compatriots who have made a worthy contribution to strengthening our independence over the past 35 years.
We respectfully commemorate the bright memory of our first President, a prominent statesman and politician, Islam Abduganievich Karimov.
Dear holiday participants!
The great importance of independence is manifested, first of all, in human dignity and free life. Therefore, from the first days of the reforms, we listened to the hearts of the people, aimed to be a remedy for the people's ailments. We brought the idea of "For human dignity!" to the center of state policy. For the first time, we eliminated problems that had tormented people for years, such as "cotton slavery", "forced labor and child labor", "restrictions on conversion", "propiska".
Most importantly, the fear and anxiety in the hearts of our citizens have been replaced by confidence and peace. We have worked tirelessly and tirelessly over the past decade to build a society where every person can live freely and prosper.
Having shown great political will, we have opened Uzbekistan to the world. In particular, border issues have been resolved, friendship and cooperation with our neighbors have been strengthened. Fundamental changes have been made in currency, tax, customs and investment policies. As a result, we have improved our position in the "Index of Economic Freedom" by 80 points, placing us among the "moderately free economies".
Previously, our economy attracted $2-3 billion in foreign investment annually, but now it is attracting $40-50 billion. Along with investments, advanced technologies, modern knowledge, and new economic opportunities are entering our country.
Three years ago, we planned to increase our gross domestic product to $160 billion by 2030. Despite disruptions in global logistics and the unstable situation in the world, we will more than achieve this goal this year and become one of the countries with an above-average income.
The important thing is that we are achieving such high results thanks to the selfless work of our people, their intellectual potential, and the unity of the nation and state. You will certainly agree with me when I say that every person and every family is deeply feeling the positive changes in their lives.
Can words describe the joy of more than 650,000 families who have acquired modern housing in the new era?
The image of New Uzbekistan is entering thousands of our neighborhoods.
We have openly acknowledged the issue of poverty and created the New Uzbekistan experience to drastically reduce it. We have established a system of working "on a neighborhood basis" to improve the income, employment, health, education and living conditions of needy families.
Thanks to our consistent efforts, we have managed to reduce the poverty rate from 35 percent in 2017 to 4 percent today. Behind these numbers lies the joy and gratitude of 10 million people whose livelihoods have been blessed and their quality of life has improved.
Dear compatriots!
To take our rightful place in the world community, we need a new generation of educated, future-oriented, and independent-minded specialists. That is why we are bringing quality and substance to education. We are restoring the prestige of teachers and increasing their income.
Over the past decade, even as our population has grown by 8 million, we have increased kindergarten coverage to 78 percent. 1.5 million additional student places have been created in schools. The establishment of presidential, creative and specialized schools has opened wide opportunities for our children to acquire in-depth knowledge at a level no less than that of leading foreign educational institutions.
We have created suitable conditions for young people to learn foreign languages and professions.
Thanks to the expansion of favorable conditions for studying at universities, the number of students has now reached 1.6 million. Fortunately, the desire to learn is growing among young people. For parents, giving their children a higher education is not just a dream, but an achievable goal.
In particular, it would be correct to say that more than half of the students are women - a unique face of the Third Renaissance. Because educated girls mean an educated family, an educated generation, and an educated society.
We consider science, modern technology, and innovation, along with education, to be crucial factors in our development.
At the same time, we have launched a huge movement by giving new impetus to the development of areas such as IT, artificial intelligence, and the creative economy. Through this, we will introduce 10 million of our young people to the digital industry and the professions of the future.
We are particularly proud of the launch of the Samarkand-2028 satellite into space with our Chinese partners on the eve of our Independence Day.
My intention: Uzbekistan should become a center that offers the world advanced initiatives in the field of technology.
The Uzbek language should be the language in which science and technology are created in the digital world.
Dear compatriots!
When we talk about human dignity, it is natural that we pay special attention to the issue of the health of our population. In recent years, we have increased the funds allocated to this area more than 8 times. Most importantly, the opportunity to receive quality medical services has been created not only in the center, but also in the regions.
Over the past period, 652 new medical institutions have been built in our country, and the volume of medical services has increased threefold due to the wide opportunities provided to the private sector. Our efforts to train highly qualified doctors and create conditions for them
are bearing fruit. More than 100 complex diagnostic and treatment methods previously implemented abroad are now being perfectly implemented in our country.
In general, the most important result of our reforms in this area is that the average life expectancy of the population has increased from 66.4 years in 1991 to 75.4 years in 2025, and infant and maternal mortality rates have decreased by 4 times.
Dear friends!
Our beloved homeland has always been a land of great thinkers, dear saints, and great scholars. We have built unique scientific and educational institutions, such as the Center for Islamic Civilization, the Imam Bukhari and Burkhaniddin Marginoni memorial complexes, worthy of such a priceless heritage.
These magnificent and sacred places are now receiving deserved recognition not only from our country and the Islamic world, but also from the people of the entire world. We will continue such creative work with great intensity.
Dear holiday participants!
Our greatest asset is the youth of New Uzbekistan, who are the decisive force of our tomorrow. 20-25 trillion soums are allocated annually to support our ambitious and hardworking sons and daughters and to open up broad opportunities for them.
Today, young entrepreneurs make up 35 percent of business representatives in Uzbekistan.
The historic achievements of our young athletes at the Tokyo and Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and on world stages have brought immense pride to our people.
Our footballers have opened a new page in the history of Uzbek sports by participating in the World Cup for the first time. We believe that the path they have begun will certainly be continuous and victorious.
In the near future, a major sporting event - the World Chess Olympiad - will begin in Samarkand. In November, our famous grandmaster Javokhir Sindorov will compete for the world chess crown.
I wish my chess players great victories in these competitions!
I consider our young people, who are taking high places in international science olympiads, competitions, and festivals, to be the stars of New Uzbekistan, the future builders!
Never stop striving forward and constantly searching, my dear children!
Dear compatriots!
Today we stand at an even more responsible and decisive stage in history. Our country is entering a completely new era of development. The next decade will be a period of national uplift for us .
We will build this only through the intelligence, hard work, and unity of our people. To this end, in the coming years, we will implement 7 national programs that will further enhance human dignity in our country.
The first national program will be to transform knowledge and skills into the main capital of our future development.
We will soon increase the coverage of children in 6-year-old preparatory groups to 100 percent. Existing privileges for establishing private kindergartens will be maintained.
All schools are fully covered by international assessment programs.
We will introduce international educational standards in technical schools in our country. We will train our youth in highly profitable professions, bringing the number of students to 1 million. In short, there will not be a single young man or woman left in New Uzbekistan who has not acquired a profession.
We set a major goal of including at least 10 of our universities in the TOP 1000 in the coming years.
The second national program serves to ensure the health and longevity of our people.
To this end, we will increase public spending on public health to 5 percent of gross domestic product over the next five years.
We will move to a health care model by strengthening preventive medicine. State health insurance will reach every household in the country.
In order to strengthen the competitive environment in specialized medicine, we will bring in at least 5 of the world's most prestigious clinics.
We will turn our country into a mask made possible by modern medicine, pharmaceuticals, biotechnologies and medical education.
Dear event participants!
The third national program is to transition our economy to a model of high technology and labor productivity.
To this end, we will attract $450 billion in foreign investment over the next ten years. While maintaining high economic growth rates, by 2030 the gross domestic product will reach $300 billion, and 2 million high-income jobs will be created in industry.
The development of startups, ventures, and artificial intelligence will become a priority in fully realizing the potential of our youth.
We will also create a holistic ecosystem for small businesses to grow into medium-sized businesses, and medium-sized enterprises to grow into large companies and corporations. As a result, the GDP per capita will exceed $10,000 in the next ten years.
Dear friends!
In the context of global climate change, water and environmental issues are becoming increasingly urgent.
Therefore, the fourth national program is aimed at radically changing the attitude towards water and nature.
In the next five years, we will achieve 100 percent coverage of water-saving technologies in crop fields. This will become a nationwide goal.
Attitude to nature is a quality indicator of the culture of the people, the responsibility of the state and progress. Therefore, in our country, we are bringing the nationwide movement "Green Space" to a new qualitative level. Green areas around schools, kindergartens, hospitals and apartment buildings are protected as an inviolable asset of society. In the coming years, we will increase the level of greenery in district and city centers to 30 percent.
Dear compatriots!
Where justice prevails, both economic growth and social trust increase.
In this regard, the fifth national program is to strengthen judicial independence and make ensuring the rule of law a common value.
To this end, we will establish a clear system of legal education, starting from school. We will resolutely continue our reforms to strengthen legal guarantees for citizens and entrepreneurs. We will further strengthen measures to prevent cybercrime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.
We will take the fight against the "shadow economy", organized crime, and discrimination against women and children to a new level.
Dear compatriots!
The mood of our people, the well-being of families, the dreams and aspirations of young people, and the initiative of entrepreneurs are reflected, first of all, in the neighborhood.
Therefore, the Sixth National Program is aimed at making the mahalla the main customer of social development.
Now the approach to developing state programs will change completely. The district budget, investment program, and infrastructure projects will be developed based on the requirements of the mahalla. The demands and needs of citizens, as well as the well-being of the mahalla, will be the main criteria.
Dear holiday participants!
The Seventh National Program is aimed at comprehensively enhancing Uzbekistan's reputation as a land of peace and friendship, a tolerant country.
In our country, representatives of more than 130 nationalities and ethnic groups, as well as members of 16 religious denominations, live in harmony and harmony, like children of one family.
In today's turbulent times, interethnic harmony and religious tolerance are the golden fund and invaluable wealth of our people.
Our open, pragmatic, and peace-loving policy is aimed at ensuring our long-term development.
Historic achievements have been achieved in expanding good-neighborly relations, strategic partnership, and friendship in Central Asia.
Our relations with the Commonwealth of Independent States, the European Union, America, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Arab-Muslim world have been further strengthened. New areas of cooperation have been opened in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
The number of countries that have established diplomatic relations with our country has reached almost 170.
We will continue to pursue a multifaceted, measured, and balanced foreign policy to make Uzbekistan an important center of international diplomacy. Economic diplomacy will remain one of the priorities of our foreign policy.
Our country will chair the Non-Aligned Movement for the first time in 2027-2029. We will actively promote initiatives aimed at increasing the effectiveness of this global structure, which unites more than 120 countries around the world.
We will firmly continue our constructive policy towards our neighboring Afghanistan.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my special gratitude to the representatives of the diplomatic corps, foreign media representatives, and our high-ranking guests from the United States, Turkey, and Singapore participating in our ceremony today for their fruitful cooperation.
Dear and respected compatriots!
I would like to express one opinion with confidence.
We are stronger today than we were yesterday. Hopefully, we will be even stronger tomorrow.
Our thirty-five years of independent development have taught us one truth: when the people and the state unite and work hard towards a common goal, there is no goal that cannot be achieved.
There is no force that can defeat such a powerful people and state.
We are one homeland, one people, and together we will build a new life and a great future!
I am confident that our courageous, courageous, and noble people will certainly achieve the lofty goals they have set for themselves.
Together, we will certainly create a golden age and a new great history for our homeland!
May we be eternally grateful to our Lord for granting us the gift of independence!
Glory to our people, the creators and true founders of our independence!
I once again congratulate you, and through you, our entire people, on today's great holiday - the thirty-fifth anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
May our country be peaceful, and our homes prosperous and prosperous!
Long live the Republic of Uzbekistan!
Long live the people of Uzbekistan!
The state visit of the President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Seok-yol at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has ended.
During the three-day visit, high-level talks were held, at the end of which the leaders signed a joint statement on further deepening and comprehensive expansion of the Special Strategic Partnership. A bilateral set of documents was received.
The heads of state participated in a joint business forum with the participation of representatives of leading Korean companies and banking and financial institutions.
The presidents visited the Technopark in Tashkent and got acquainted with the existing potential for industrial cooperation.
Today, the dialogue between the heads of state continued in Samarkand. The presidents and their wives got acquainted with the historical and architectural masterpieces of the ancient city.
After the end of the visit, President Yun Sok Yol and his wife were escorted by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his wife at the airport.
On November 15, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting on issues of uninterrupted energy supply to the population and sectors of the economy, improving efficiency at enterprises in the sphere.
The relevant tasks were identified at a video conference held on June 10. Today, the responsible persons reported on the work accomplished in fulfillment of these tasks and preparations for the autumn-winter season.
It was noted that gas is supplied in volumes commensurate with the growing demand of the population and sectors of the economy. As a result of the modernization of industries and increasing the energy efficiency of the economy, there is a decrease in losses. For example, in recent years, gas consumption for the production of industrial products has decreased by 1.6 times.
There is still a lot of work ahead. It is necessary to ensure a stable supply of energy to the population in the current season and subsequent years, and prepare a sufficient reserve for this.
These issues were discussed in the context of industries at the meeting.
According to calculations, 21 billion cubic meters of gas will be supplied to consumers this year during the winter season. If the air temperature drops sharply, the population's demand will increase even more. The responsible persons outlined a plan of action in such a situation by month and by district.
A separate reserve is provided for uninterrupted power supply to social institutions and enterprises. A system has been created for the targeted supply of natural gas to thermal power plants, chemical and metallurgical enterprises, as well as gas filling stations.
It was pointed out that it is necessary to resolutely continue the work started on accounting and control of gas in industries and further reduce losses. The task has been set to implement the identified gas saving opportunities in Andijan, Navoi and Tashkent regions, as well as other regions.
The Head of State gave instructions to responsible persons on organizing work at the level of districts and mahallas, solving issues related to energy supply directly on the ground, coordinating demand and consumption, and preventing interruptions.
The meeting also touched upon the processes of transformation in the gas sector. It was decided that industry enterprises will enter the international financial market and independently raise funds for modernization.
Digitalization and public-private partnerships offer the greatest opportunities in updating and regulating gas supply networks. In this regard, proposals were considered to attract private operators to the industry.
The President instructed to reduce the costs in the context of each industry and enterprises, optimize costs and accelerate the transformation process. The importance of expanding exploration activities with the involvement of leading foreign companies was emphasized.
Namangan is one of Uzbekistan’s regions with a rich centuries-old history. The area has been continuously inhabited for more than two thousand years. The Namangan region was established as an administrative unit in 1941. Today, its population exceeds three million people. The area covers 7,900 km², and its administrative centre is the city of Namangan. The city is located at an altitude of about 450 metres above sea level.
Namangan is one of the most densely populated regions of Uzbekistan. As a result, public life is highly active, and economic, cultural, and educational processes are developing dynamically. The annual International Flower Festival is especially well known.
The Flower Festival was first held in Namangan in August 1961 as a flower exhibition. In 2018, it received international status, and since then it has attracted participants and guests from various countries. Today, it has become one of Uzbekistan’s largest international cultural celebrations.
This year marks the 65th anniversary edition of the festival. Over the years, the event has gained recognition not only in the country but also internationally.
The festival attracts significant interest not only from residents of Uzbekistan but also from neighbouring countries, as well as international experts and specialists. Preparations for the event are currently in full swing.
According to organisers, around 1 million foreign tourists from more than 50 countries and over 7 million local visitors are expected this year. The 50-day festival will include more than 150 cultural, educational, and entertainment events.
A key feature of this year’s festival may be its inclusion in the Guinness World Records. A process is currently underway to set a record for the largest-scale flower planting within a month. The process is being monitored for transparency by a representative of the organization in the UAE, Kanzy Defrawy, in accordance with international standards.
The festival will run from 24 May to 12 July. Its programme includes gala concerts, drone shows, car parades, open-air symphony concerts, fashion weeks, exhibitions, and international forums on tourism, investment, and business.
As part of the preparations, around 5 million seasonal flowers have been planted across the city and districts, giving the region a bright and festive appearance.
The opening ceremony will take place on 24 May at Babur Park in Namangan. On this day, a flower-decorated car parade will be held through the city streets, and in the evening a concert featuring local and international artists will take place at the amphitheatre of the “New Uzbekistan” Park.
Throughout the festival, daily programmes will include theatre performances, puppet shows for children, handicraft fairs, workshops, and regular concerts in parks.
In late May and early June, several major events are planned, including a symphony concert, a retro music evening, “Fashion Days” shows, a lavender festival, and a concert by Yulduz Usmonova. A drone show is also scheduled for 1 June.
Sports enthusiasts will be able to enjoy wrestling competitions, motocross events, international tournaments, and ethnosport games.
The festival will also host international conferences on biodiversity, artificial intelligence, tourism, and economics, highlighting its scientific significance.
In addition, gastronomic festivals, youth environmental campaigns, competitions, and special programmes for children are planned.
The festival will conclude on 12 July with a closing and award ceremony at the “New Uzbekistan” Park.
In summary, the International Flower Festival in Namangan is not only a celebration of flowers but also a large-scale international event that combines culture, art, sport, and science.
Dunyo IA
Today, cooperation agenda between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan is gradually taking on a regional dimension. Tashkent and Baku are increasingly viewed not merely as two independent technology hubs, but as potential links connecting the innovation ecosystems of Central Asia and the South Caucasus.
Additional institutional groundwork for long-term cooperation was laid by the outcomes of the Uzbek-Azerbaijani summit in August 2026, during which a Treaty on Eternal Friendship between the two states was signed.
From Interagency Dialogue to Practical Cooperation
One of the starting points for modern cooperation in technology and innovation was June 2022. During Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan and the Ministry for Innovative Development of Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
Practical implementation of these agreements began just a few months later. In September 2022, Uzbek specialists visited the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan and its affiliated organizations. The delegation familiarized itself with the activities of Azercosmos, including the management of telecommunications satellites and Earth observation technologies, and studied the work of Azerbaijan’s Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) and its startup support mechanisms. One of the earliest areas of cooperation was therefore the exchange of practical experience in developing innovation and digital infrastructure.
The next important stage of cooperation came at the end of 2023, when a delegation from the Ministry of Digital Technologies and IT Park Uzbekistan visited Baku and took part in the INMerge Innovation Summit. As part of the visit, Uzbek representatives also held a meeting with PASHA Holding, which became an important point of contact for establishing business ties and discussing prospects for cooperation in innovation, digital technologies, and startup ecosystem development.
During talks with the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, the parties identified areas such as e-government, telecommunications, electronic document management, and digitalization. An interagency working group was formed to further develop these projects. At the same time, substantive dialogue began with IDDA on the development of startup and venture ecosystems and the organization of joint acceleration programs.
Thus, from 2022 onward, Uzbek-Azerbaijani digital cooperation gradually moved from studying experience and establishing institutional contacts toward practical cooperation between the technology ecosystems of the two countries.
IT Business Becomes a Distinct Area of Bilateral Relations
The development of intergovernmental engagement has been accompanied by an expansion of direct ties between IT companies from both countries.
By the end of the first half of 2026, the number of IT Park Uzbekistan resident companies with Azerbaijani capital reached 16.
The volume of export services provided by companies with Azerbaijani capital exceeded $2.5 million in the first half of 2026 alone, already surpassing the figure for the whole of 2025, which stood at more than $2.3 million. These companies have created 172 jobs.
Their main areas of activity are software development and implementation, technical support, and software licensing. Companies with Azerbaijani capital include, among others, Financial Chain Corporation and Robertson and Blums.
At the same time, exports of Uzbek digital services to the Azerbaijani market are also growing. In the first half of 2026, 21 IT Park Uzbekistan companies exported services to Azerbaijan. Export volume exceeded $1.2 million, nearly matching the figure for all of 2025, which reached $1.34 million.
Companies serving the Azerbaijani market employ approximately 700 specialists. Among the largest exporters are T4Data, which works with SAP solutions, and Transproekt and IT A-Plus Solutions Software, which specialize in software development.
Startups and Venture Capital: A Fast-Growing Area
One of the key elements of Uzbek-Azerbaijani technological engagement has been the development of the startup ecosystem.
The first practical bridges began forming as early as 2023. IT Park Uzbekistan served as an information partner for Azerbaijan’s SABAH.lab acceleration program, which prepared technology companies for investment and provided funding opportunities for selected projects.
During the 2023 INMerge Innovation Summit in Baku, Uzbek startups TASS Vision, Workly, Sug’urta Bozor, and Uysot had the opportunity to present their projects to international venture funds, including 500 Global, Caucasus Ventures, White Hill Capital, Seedstars, TA Ventures, and Plug and Play.
At the same time, discussions were held with SABAH.HUB on investment in Uzbek startups and the development of university incubation programs, as well as with Azerbaijan’s Innovation and Digital Development Agency on joint acceleration projects.
In November 2024, four Uzbek startup projects were presented under the “Central Asian Innovation Hubs” brand at the InMerge innovation summit in Baku, marking the beginning of more active bilateral engagement in the startup sphere. This partnership was further developed on May 6, 2026, when IT Park Uzbekistan and PASHA Holding jointly held the “InMerge Uzbekistan Innovation Summit” in Tashkent, bringing together more than 40 startups and around 20 international experts and speakers, along with investors, corporations, and government representatives, to discuss business partnerships and investment attraction.
A practical outcome of this cooperation was that Azerbaijani startups “Push30” and “Clopos” attracted a combined $500,000 in investment from local funds IT Park Ventures and Aloqa Ventures as part of their expansion into Uzbekistan. At the same time, Uzbek startup “Recepta” secured $150,000 in investment from IT Park Ventures under the “Digital Startup Awards” program. Reciprocal activity has also been demonstrated by Uzbek startups “Tass Vision,” “Promptlab,” and “Oson,” which are actively expanding into the Azerbaijani market, as well as by startup “Sino AI,” which has been integrated into a clinic in Azerbaijan and is undergoing testing with 50 users.
A particularly notable practical outcome was Azerbaijan’s participation in the Digital Startup Awards 2025, organized by the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan, IT Park Uzbekistan, and IT Park Ventures.
Azerbaijani projects took part in several tracks simultaneously, including incubation, acceleration, and the “Best Startup Project” category. Startups from Azerbaijan received a combined total of $70,000 through the program. Recepta received $50,000 under the acceleration program, Lingozy and SnackPack AZ received support through incubation, while StarkidStories and Tryverse represented Azerbaijan in the finals of the Best Startup Project category.
This marks an important qualitative shift: capital is beginning to flow between the two ecosystems in both directions, creating the foundations for a regional venture capital market.
From Acceleration to Joint Work on AI Projects
Artificial intelligence is gradually becoming a distinct area of technological cooperation.
In June 2026, IT Park Uzbekistan, IT Park Ventures, Azerbaijan’s SABAH.HUB, and Founders Hub organized a Startup Deep Dive practical session for technology entrepreneurs in Tashkent. Selected startups had the opportunity to present their products to a SABAH.HUB expert and receive an assessment of their business models, market potential, and readiness for investment and international scaling.
Particular emphasis in the program was placed on startups considering Azerbaijan as their next market for expansion.
Alongside startup cooperation, another strategically important area developing in parallel is training and the exchange of professional competencies.
A notable example was the 3rd International Training Camp in Competitive Programming, held in Baku from August 20 to 27, 2026. Uzbekistan was represented by four teams, including teams from Tashkent University of Information Technologies, New Uzbekistan University, and the Tashkent branch of Moscow State University.
Three of these teams were winners of the IT Park Code Cup, and their participation was supported by IT Park Uzbekistan. Over the course of seven days, students worked on problems from one of the world’s most rigorous international competitive programming training programs and exchanged knowledge with foreign teams and coaches.
What the Next Stage of Cooperation Will Look Like
The experience accumulated so far points to the gradual formation of a new direction in Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations in the field of digital technologies.
While the first stage was centered on familiarization visits and the exchange of government experience, and the second on participation in joint events and startup programs, the next stage will involve establishing permanent infrastructure for technological cooperation.
ICT Week Uzbekistan 2026 will serve as an important platform for continuing this dialogue. As part of the week, a technology forum of the Organization of Turkic States is also planned to be held in Uzbekistan, with representatives of Azerbaijan’s technology ecosystem participating.
Looking ahead, this interconnection between the two ecosystems could become one of the region’s key competitive advantages. It creates conditions for the emergence of new cross-border companies, joint investment mechanisms, and technological solutions capable of scaling across multiple markets simultaneously.
In this way, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are gradually forming an ecosystem that could become an independent hub for attracting entrepreneurs, capital, and technology professionals, strengthening the region’s role in the global innovation economy.
Uzbekistan has historically been a proactive driver in strengthening ties among Turkic-speaking nations. Following a period of limited engagement, a pivotal turning point occurred in 2018 when the President of the Republic attended the 6th Summit of the Organization as a Guest of Honor. In 2019, the country ratified the Nakhchivan Agreement, officially becoming a full member of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). Since joining, Uzbekistan has proposed 116 specific initiatives, more than half of which have already been successfully implemented. The economic impact of this strategic course is evidenced by the data: at the end of 2025, trade turnover with OTS member states increased by 9.6%, reaching $10.8 billion.
Investment cooperation also shows a steady upward trend, with 4,352 enterprises operating with capital from member states as of early 2026. The Republic of Türkiye remains a key strategic partner, with bilateral relations officially elevated to the level of a Strategic Partnership in 2017. Türkiye leads all OTS countries in the number of enterprises established in Uzbekistan, reaching 2,137 units. Investment collaboration in 2025 was characterized by the utilization of funds totaling $3.2 billion, while trade turnover during the same period amounted to $3.024 billion. Transport connectivity is exceptionally robust, with 97 scheduled weekly flights operating between the cities of both nations across eight different routes, including Istanbul and Ankara.
Kazakhstan stands as Uzbekistan's largest trading partner within the Organization, with trade turnover growing by 11.4% in 2025 to nearly $5 billion. There are 1,212 enterprises with Kazakh capital successfully operating in the republic. The transport sector demonstrates immense scale, with freight volume exceeding 22.3 million tons in 2025, the majority of which—19.6 million tons—was transported via rail networks.
The dynamics of economic relations with Kyrgyzstan are marked by the highest growth rates in trade turnover, which surged by 37.1% in 2025 to reach $1.199 billion. The parties have solidified a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, facilitating an increase in joint ventures to 346 units. The transport sector recorded a significant rise, with total freight volume growing by 22.4% in 2025 to nearly 5.4 million tons. Export shipments across all modes of transport more than doubled, indicating deep integration of production chains.
In 2024, a fundamental Treaty on Allied Relations was signed with Azerbaijan, opening a new chapter in bilateral cooperation. Trade turnover between the countries grew by 14.6% in 2025, totaling $307.3 million. In the investment sphere, 367 enterprises with Azerbaijani capital are currently active. The logistics partnership is also strengthening, as total freight volume increased by 28.3% in 2025, supported by 14 weekly flights between the capitals.
Turkmenistan, which participates in the Organization as an observer, remains a vital partner, with trade turnover reaching $1.203 billion in 2025. The launch of the Shavat-Dashoguz joint border trade zone was a practical step toward streamlining commodity exchange. As of early 2026, 270 enterprises with Turkmen capital were functioning in Uzbekistan. In the transport sector, total cargo volume for 2025 amounted to approximately 1.785 million tons, reflecting a positive growth trend of 22.5%.
Hungary also holds observer status and is actively developing high-tech cooperation with Uzbekistan. In 2025, mutual trade grew by 41.7%, reaching $117.4 million. Although there are 20 enterprises with Hungarian capital in the republic, their projects are notable for their significant scale. These include the establishment of poultry clusters in the Syrdarya region valued at $165 million and a $59 million project for the construction of water treatment facilities in "New Tashkent."
The successful implementation of initiatives and steady growth in economic indicators confirm that Uzbekistan has found the OTS to be an effective instrument for advancing its national interests. Further deepening industrial cooperation and developing the region's transit potential create a solid foundation for transforming this space into a significant global manufacturing and trade hub. The strategic course toward closer integration with the Turkic world opens new prospects for attracting innovation and large-scale investment into key sectors of the national economy. Continuing this policy will not only strengthen the republic's international standing but also ensure long-term socio-economic prosperity for all member states of the Organization.
On 30 April, the official visit of Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to Uzbekistan came to a close. The visit took place at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Talks were held at the Kuksaroy residence in both restricted and plenary formats. As a result, the two sides signed a Joint Declaration on the Promotion of Expanded Cooperation along with a package of bilateral agreements covering economic, industrial, and scientific-technological cooperation, as well as the training of diplomatic personnel, collaboration in the fields of geology and metrology, and the supply of electric trains.
It is worth noting that this was already the second visit by a Czech prime minister to Uzbekistan. In April 2023, Petr Fiala visited Tashkent, and in October of the same year Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov made a reciprocal visit to Prague, where he met with Czech President Petr Pavel and signed an Interstate Declaration on Enhanced Cooperation. In September 2025, on the sidelines of the 80th anniversary session of the United Nations General Assembly, Presidents Mirziyoyev and Pavel held a bilateral meeting and discussed specific projects in the areas of investment, innovation, transport, and agriculture. Such intensity of contacts at the highest level is a rare phenomenon in international diplomacy. It testifies to the fact that both sides regard their relationship not as a matter of protocol formality, but as a genuine political priority.
The agenda of the current Uzbek-Czech talks was exceptionally substantive, covering several key areas, each of which merits separate consideration.
First — the expansion of trade, economic, and industrial cooperation. Over recent years, bilateral trade turnover has doubled, which is in itself a significant achievement. Nonetheless, both sides acknowledge that the figures attained merely reflect the existing potential without coming close to exhausting it.
Against this backdrop, the parties set a target of raising the volume of mutual trade to one billion US dollars, including through an expansion of the range of goods supplied. Uzbekistan already hosts 37 joint ventures with Czech capital participation, providing a solid productive foundation for the further development of the partnership.
The principal mechanism governing this process and opening up new avenues for interaction is the The Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Industrial, and Scientific-Technological Cooperation. Over the years of its operation, the Commission has held ten sessions, the most recent of which took place in Prague in March 2025.
To further stimulate trade, the first Uzbek certification branch in the Czech Republic is being established, while work is simultaneously under way on the construction of a Euro 6 vehicle certification laboratory and a quantum measurement standard — infrastructure facilities without which Uzbek products would face significant barriers to full access to European markets.
In parallel, an agreement has been reached with leading Czech companies on the development of a Technology Cooperation Programme encompassing mechanical engineering, green energy, geology and critical raw materials, as well as chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, the Czech Export Credit Insurance Corporation (EGAP) and the Czech Export Bank confirmed their intentions to provide financial support for joint projects. To coordinate the entire economic agenda, it was decided to establish a Business Council, and the next session of the Intergovernmental Commission is scheduled to take place in Tashkent in August of the current year.
The Uzbek-Czech business forum, held on the eve of the visit with the participation of the heads of government of both countries, served as a practical platform for giving the bilateral agenda concrete substance. More than 200 participants discussed prospects for deepening economic cooperation. Particular emphasis was placed on the fact that Uzbekistan's GDP exceeded 145 billion US dollars in 2025 — a figure that is fundamentally transforming international investors' perception of the country.
As a result, Czech companies are increasingly viewing Uzbekistan as a strategic springboard for access to Central Asian markets. The unique combination of dynamic growth, a young population, and a favourable geographical location makes the country one of the most attractive hubs on the Eurasian continent.
Following the forum, a package of cooperation agreements was signed covering mechanical engineering, infrastructure modernisation, and education, while mechanisms for engagement with the Czech Export Bank and EGAP were formalised, providing for preferential lending and risk insurance for high-technology projects.
Second — high-technology cooperation in the transport sector, the symbolic centrepiece of which was the signing of a contract for the supply and maintenance of the first ten Škoda Group electric trains. It should be stressed that the prospects of this project extend well beyond a simple equipment transaction. The plans include the establishment of a joint venture for local assembly and lifetime technical maintenance of rolling stock, as well as the creation of a Škoda Academy for the training of Uzbek specialists.
In this context, Škoda Group CEO Petr Novotný regards Uzbekistan as his company's "number one target" outside Europe, believing that the results achieved there will open the door to markets across Central Asia. For Uzbekistan in turn, this is not merely a technical upgrade, but an opportunity to integrate into European production chains and build domestic technological competences.
Third — cooperation in the fields of education, science, and cultural and humanitarian ties. In this domain, Uzbek-Czech partnership has its deepest roots and the most enduring future. The number of Uzbek students enrolled at Czech universities has grown from approximately 350 in 2020 to between 600 and 700 today, predominantly in technical, economic, agricultural, and IT disciplines. The Czech government's annual award of scholarships for citizens of Uzbekistan provides an additional incentive.
Of particular note is the fact that direct contacts have been established at the inter-university level. The National University of Uzbekistan cooperates with Charles University and the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague; the Tashkent Medical Academy maintains ties with the First Faculty of Medicine at Charles University; and a number of other leading institutions collaborate with Mendel University in Brno. The talks confirmed mutual interest in further expanding academic exchanges, including joint degree programmes, which will open fundamentally new career horizons for students of both countries.
Worthy of mention in this context is also the scientific and archaeological dimension of bilateral ties. Since 2003, Termez State University has been conducting a joint expedition with Charles University of Prague in the Surkhandarya region. Over the past two decades, nine previously unknown Bronze Age sites and fourteen Early Iron Age monuments have been discovered, and maps and inventories of heritage sites across several districts have been compiled. This cooperation has continued regardless of changes in government and shifting political circumstances.
An equally significant aspect is the ongoing exploration of the possibility of resuming direct air services between Tashkent and Prague — a matter that at first glance may appear to be purely logistical, but which in practice opens up new opportunities for tourist, business, and academic contacts alike.
Coming to the fore as well are the prospects for systematic cooperation in the field of labour migration, reflecting the profound qualitative shifts taking place in the labour markets of both Uzbekistan and the Czech Republic.
In sum, assessing the outcomes of the visit, one can state with confidence that Uzbek-Czech relations are entering a qualitatively new phase of development. The intensive high-level dialogue, underpinned by concrete economic initiatives, technological agreements, and institutional mechanisms, lays a solid foundation for a long-term strategic partnership.
The implementation of the agreements reached opens broad prospects for the modernisation of the Uzbek economy, the development of high-technology industries, and the strengthening of human capital. For the Czech Republic, meanwhile, Uzbekistan is becoming not merely a trading partner, but a reliable gateway to one of the most dynamically developing regions of Eurasia.
Bakhtiyor Mustafayev
Deputy Director, Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
In recent years, fundamental changes in global trade routes and disruptions in supply chains have sharply increased the need for reliable and alternative transport corridors. Under these conditions, cooperation in the transport and logistics sector among the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), located in a strategic region at the junction of Europe and Asia, is becoming one of the main drivers of regional integration.
The economic foundation of this cooperation is strengthening year by year. In 2025, the total economic potential of the organization's member states exceeded $2.4 trillion, and its growth rate (6.8%) was twice as high as the global average. During this period, Uzbekistan's trade turnover with OTS countries increased by 14 percent, reaching $11 billion.
Transport indicators also confirm this trend. According to the results of the first six months of 2026, our country's export-import cargo transportation with OTS countries amounted to 8.5 million tons, accounting for about 29% of total international transportation. Of the total volume of transportation with OTS countries, 66% was carried out with Kazakhstan, 21% with Kyrgyzstan, 7% with Turkey, 5% with Turkmenistan, and 1% with Azerbaijan.
It is worth noting that on October 7, 2025, the 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States was held in Gabala, Azerbaijan, under the motto "Regional Peace and Security" to further accelerate multifaceted cooperation within the Organization and strengthen the strategic partnership among member states.
Following the summit, the parties adopted the Gabala Declaration, which is aimed at expanding cooperation in the political, economic, transport and communication, energy, and security spheres. At the same time, the development of the Middle Corridor was consolidated as a strategic priority of the organization, and the "OTS+" format was introduced to expand cooperation with external partners.
In addition, a number of important events were held within the framework of the OTS in 2026. Specifically, on April 2, 2026, the second meeting of the heads of government of the organization's member states took place in Baku. During the meeting, priority attention was paid to expanding trade, economic, and investment cooperation, implementing joint projects, and improving the business environment. The importance of developing industrial cooperation and transport connectivity, including the implementation of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway projects, was also noted.
On April 23, 2026, the 9th meeting of the OTS transport ministers was held in Bishkek. The successful ongoing implementation of the e-Permit project was noted at the meeting. Following the meeting, a Memorandum was signed on the introduction of the e-CMR electronic waybill system. This system enables the electronic transmission of transport documents and significantly reduces processing times at the borders.
On May 15, 2026, an informal OTS summit titled "Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development" was held in Turkistan, Kazakhstan. The Turkistan Declaration, adopted at the conclusion of the summit, outlined a number of practical tasks in the field of transport. In particular, the introduction of the e-CMR system, the full launch of the e-Permit system, the integration of national "single window" systems to simplify document flow along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), the introduction of the eTIR procedure, as well as the promotion of a unified support system among the competent authorities of member states, border services, and transport operators to resolve cargo transportation issues, were approved.
Speaking at the Turkistan Summit, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that, given the strategic location of the Middle Corridor, special attention will be paid to connecting it with the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, the construction of which is rapidly progressing. At the summit, initiatives were put forward to develop the concept of the "Digital Turkic Corridor," which will connect data centers in the region via high-speed communication channels, as well as to establish a Turkic Alliance for Cybersecurity and the Protection of Digital Infrastructure.
At this point, it is worth highlighting the results achieved by our country in the field of digitalization. In 2021, for the first time in the world, the e-Permit system for the electronic exchange of permit forms was launched between Uzbekistan and Turkey, while in December 2022, the world's first pilot transport operation based on the eTIR system was carried out with Azerbaijan. Today, the e-Permit system has been fully implemented with all OTS member states, and as a next step, the practical introduction of the electronic waybill (e-CMR) system used in international road transport is on the agenda.
The "China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan" and "Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan" railway projects play a special role in the integration of the region. While one forms the shortest corridor from China to European and Middle Eastern countries, the other connects the South Asian railway system with the Central Asian and Eurasian railway systems.
In recent years, attention to the Trans-Caspian Corridor has also been growing. Over the past 5 years, the transit of Uzbekistan's cargo through the port of Baku has doubled, reaching 1.2 million tons in 2025. According to the results of January-June 2026, this figure amounted to 0.5 million tons, an increase of 2 percent compared to the same period last year.
According to forecasts, the intensive cooperation being carried out within the Organization is expected to become an important milestone towards the formation of a unified transport space among the Turkic states. Joint reforms to eliminate operational and infrastructural shortcomings, as well as agreements to connect the Middle Corridor with the "China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan" railway and the Trans-Afghan corridor, will serve to further strengthen the role of the OTS countries in the Eurasian transport system.
Leading Specialist of the Center for the Study of Transport and Logistics Development Problems Under the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Sh. Akhmedov
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will participate in the upcoming 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), which will be held in Ankara, Türkiye.
Ahead of the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States, scheduled to be held in Ankara, economic cooperation within the OTS is acquiring new substance. Alongside trade and investment, industrial cooperation, transport corridors, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and co-financing mechanisms are emerging as practical areas of engagement. The preparation of the OTS Strategy for 2027–2031 further increases the economic significance of the Ankara meeting.
Today, the Organization of Turkic States covers a significant economic space connecting Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Türkiye with European markets. By the end of 2025, the combined nominal GDP of the OTS countries amounted to approximately $2.3 trillion, while their GDP at purchasing power parity exceeded $6.2 trillion. Their aggregate foreign trade turnover surpassed $1.2 trillion.
These figures indicate the presence of a large market for expanding economic cooperation. At the same time, the volume of mutual trade among the OTS countries remains limited relative to their overall economic potential. The next stage of cooperation is therefore increasingly focused on moving beyond the simple expansion of trade toward deeper industrial cooperation, lower transport costs and the financing of joint investment projects.
Differences in the economic structures of the OTS countries provide a foundation for such cooperation. Türkiye has a substantial manufacturing base in machinery, automotive production, electrical engineering, textiles and chemicals. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, in addition to their energy resources, hold significant positions in metallurgy and petrochemicals. Uzbekistan is developing its textile and garment industry, electrical engineering, automotive, chemical and food industries, as well as non-ferrous metallurgy. Kyrgyzstan’s capabilities in light industry and agriculture also provide an additional basis for expanding shared production chains.
In this context, the economic outcome of integration within the OTS will increasingly be determined not merely by the volume of mutual trade, but also by the extent to which enterprises in member countries become integrated into one another’s production chains.
For Uzbekistan, economic relations with the Turkic states have become an important component of foreign trade diversification.
In 2025, Uzbekistan’s total foreign trade turnover reached $81.2 billion, including $33.8 billion in exports and $47.4 billion in imports. Among the country’s major trading partners, turnover with Kazakhstan amounted to $5 billion, while trade with Türkiye reached $3 billion.
Kazakhstan and Türkiye alone account for roughly one-tenth of Uzbekistan’s total foreign trade. When economic relations with Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Hungary are also taken into account, the OTS space represents a distinct and sizeable regional market for Uzbekistan.
Exports have played an important role in recent trade growth. In 2025, Uzbekistan exported $1.5 billion worth of goods and services to Kazakhstan, $1.1 billion to Türkiye and $771.1 million to Kyrgyzstan.
The composition of trade also points to qualitative changes in economic relations. In 2025, industrial goods accounted for 28.2% of Uzbekistan’s exports to OTS countries, machinery and transport equipment for 19%, food products for 11.1%, chemical products for 10%, and services for 12.7%. On the import side, food products represented 22.8%, mineral fuels 20.3%, industrial goods 18.1%, and machinery and transport equipment 12.9%.
This structure highlights two important features. First, Uzbekistan’s exports to the OTS market are not limited to raw materials, with industrial goods, machinery and equipment accounting for a substantial share. Second, the presence of energy resources, industrial goods and equipment in imports indicates that mutual trade with OTS countries is also closely linked to domestic production processes.
For this reason, alongside trade turnover, the depth of industrial cooperation is becoming an increasingly important indicator of future economic relations.
Despite significant growth in trade, the available opportunities have yet to be fully utilized.
According to estimates by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms, Uzbekistan has the potential to increase exports to OTS countries by an additional $2.7 billion. The largest reserve is associated with the Turkish market, at $1.8 billion. Additional export potential is estimated at $500 million for Kazakhstan, $200 million for Hungary and $100 million for Kyrgyzstan.
Market size alone, however, is insufficient to ensure export growth. Product quality, mutual recognition of standards, certification procedures, transport costs, delivery times and access to trade finance all directly affect exporters’ competitiveness.
Opportunities are particularly substantial in agriculture and food products. The combined agricultural market of the OTS countries is estimated at around $72 billion. For Uzbekistan, promising export categories include fruit and vegetables, processed food products, textiles, electrical equipment, construction materials, mineral fertilizers, copper products and polymers.
The concentration of a large share of the export reserve in Türkiye and Kazakhstan is also economically significant. Türkiye offers both a sizeable domestic consumer market and access to European and Mediterranean markets. Kazakhstan, due to its geographical proximity, shared transport networks and production linkages within Central Asia, remains a natural partner for cooperation with Uzbek enterprises.
In this sense, realizing the $2.7 billion export reserve requires a coordinated approach across industrial, logistics and trade policies.
Alongside trade, investment flows from OTS countries into Uzbekistan have also increased substantially.
Between 2017 and 2025, investment attracted from OTS countries into Uzbekistan exceeded $11.5 billion. In 2025 alone, investment amounted to $3.8 billion. Türkiye was Uzbekistan’s largest investor among OTS countries, with $2.4 billion. Investment was concentrated primarily in manufacturing, energy, agriculture, construction and logistics.
As of April 2026, Uzbekistan was home to more than 4,500 enterprises with capital participation from OTS countries.
The growing number of such enterprises points to a qualitative shift in economic relations. A trade transaction ends once a product crosses the border, whereas direct investment creates longer-term links between economies through capital, technology, employment, local suppliers and export channels.
The expansion of joint industrial projects within the OTS can therefore provide an additional foundation for further growth in mutual trade.
For example, components produced in one country may be used to manufacture finished goods in another and subsequently exported to a third market. In such a case, trade statistics reflect an underlying integrated production chain. Differences in the specialization of the Turkic economies create opportunities for precisely this type of cooperation.
One of the most significant institutional developments in the OTS economic architecture has been the transition of the Turkic Investment Fund to practical operations.
In 2025, its authorized capital was increased from $500 million to $600 million. Uzbekistan’s share amounts to $100 million.
The Fund’s economic significance is not limited to the size of its own capital. Its broader potential lies in using these resources to mobilize financing from other international financial institutions.
On 17 June 2026, the Turkic Investment Fund and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, part of the Islamic Development Bank Group, signed an agreement on an Islamic co-financing program of up to $50 million. The program is intended to finance small and medium-sized enterprises through local financial institutions in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan.
Another practical model emerged on 1 July. The Turkic Investment Fund signed an agreement to provide up to $10 million in financing to KMF Bank in Kazakhstan, while the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development committed up to $50 million. The combined resources are intended to expand lending to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
These two examples point to an emerging trend. Rather than functioning solely as an institution that directly allocates its own resources, the Fund could develop into a platform for mobilizing international financial resources for projects across the OTS region.
Such an approach could help mobilize investment substantially exceeding the Fund’s own $600 million capital base. This mechanism is particularly relevant for industrial cooperation, transport, energy, digital infrastructure and small business projects.
Transport costs and delivery times remain another major factor affecting trade within the OTS region.
Because Central Asian countries lack direct access to seaports, logistics costs have a significant impact on export competitiveness. In this context, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route — the Middle Corridor, which runs across the Caspian Sea through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye toward European markets — is becoming an important infrastructure component of economic cooperation within the OTS.
For Uzbekistan, the importance of this route is increasing with the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway. Connecting the new railway with the Caspian route could expand Uzbekistan’s participation in the East–West logistics chain linking China, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe.
A modern transport corridor, however, consists of more than roads and railways. Border procedures, permits, customs declarations, consignment notes and cargo tracking systems also affect the time and cost of transportation.
Digitalization has therefore become an important component of OTS transport policy.
The e-Permit electronic permit system is being implemented among the organization’s member states. At the 9th Meeting of OTS Ministers of Transport, held in Bishkek on 23 April 2026, a memorandum was also signed on introducing the e-CMR electronic international consignment note.
At the May summit in Turkistan, the President of Uzbekistan noted that the E-Permit system had been fully launched with OTS member states and proposed linking the Middle Corridor with the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, developing a simplified customs corridor, and digitalizing data exchange and cargo tracking processes.
If these mechanisms are integrated into a single system, the OTS region could develop a logistics environment that facilitates both the physical movement of goods and the digital flow of accompanying documents and data.
The economic effects can be measured in concrete terms — shorter border crossing times, lower administrative costs and greater predictability of delivery schedules for exporters.
In 2026, another new dimension of OTS economic cooperation became increasingly visible.
On 15 May, the informal summit in Turkistan on “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development” placed particular emphasis on digital infrastructure, innovative technologies and the practical application of artificial intelligence.
Uzbekistan proposed developing the concept of a “Digital Turkic Corridor”, aimed at connecting data centers across the region through high-speed communication channels.
Additional initiatives included the establishment of a strategic cooperation network in artificial intelligence, the organization of a Technology Forum in Tashkent and broader technological cooperation among participating countries.
There is a clear connection between transport and digital integration. While the Middle Corridor facilitates the movement of goods, the Digital Turkic Corridor could accelerate the movement of data.
As a result, two parallel types of infrastructure may develop across the OTS region — physical and digital.
The first encompasses roads and railways, ports, logistics centers and customs infrastructure. The second includes data centers, telecommunications networks, cloud computing, artificial intelligence infrastructure and digital services.
Their integration could support the expansion of e-commerce, digital logistics, fintech, cross-border services and digital production management.
Another feature of the changes taking place within the OTS is the emergence of permanent mechanisms for economic cooperation.
While cooperation previously relied largely on summits of heads of state, intergovernmental meetings and bilateral agreements, dedicated mechanisms are now taking shape in finance, transport and the digital economy.
The Turkic Investment Fund is establishing a mechanism for financing investment projects. E-Permit and e-CMR are digitalizing transport documentation. The Digital Turkic Corridor initiative is intended to connect information infrastructure across participating countries.
The economic value of these institutions lies primarily in their ability to complement one another.
The effectiveness of integration will therefore depend not only on reducing trade barriers, but also on developing the broader infrastructure that supports trade.
Developments within the OTS open several avenues for expanding Uzbekistan’s economic cooperation.
The first is access to larger export markets. The estimated $2.7 billion in additional export potential represents a significant reserve relative to existing trade flows.
The second is industrial cooperation. Türkiye’s industrial and technological base, the resources of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan’s labor resources and expanding manufacturing sector provide conditions for developing complementary production chains.
The third is transport geography. Connecting the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway with the Middle Corridor could expand Uzbekistan’s transit and logistics opportunities along the East–West axis.
The fourth is access to capital. Co-financing mechanisms involving the Turkic Investment Fund and international financial institutions could provide new sources of financing for the private sector.
The fifth is the digital economy. Integration of data centers, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and digital transport documentation could create conditions for faster growth in trade in services.
At the same time, these opportunities will not automatically translate into economic outcomes. Turning the $2.7 billion export potential into actual exports requires addressing product standards, certification, logistics costs, financing and market access at the level of specific product categories.
Likewise, the economic efficiency of transport corridors should be assessed not by their length or the number of participating countries, but by indicators such as cargo delivery times, transport costs per tonne and waiting times at border crossings.
In investment cooperation, the volume of capital attracted should be considered alongside localization levels, the participation of domestic companies in supply chains, job creation and export revenues.
As of September 2026, preparations are under way for the 13th OTS Summit in Ankara. On 8 September, OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the organizational and substantive aspects of the summit as well as its expected outcomes.
The discussions also covered another important document — the OTS Strategy for 2027–2031, which is expected to define the organization’s strategic framework and priority areas for the coming period.
In this context, the Ankara Summit may become an important milestone for the next stage of economic cooperation within the OTS.
The trend of recent years is increasingly clear. While the initial emphasis was largely on expanding trade volumes, economic relations are now becoming more closely linked to investment, transport infrastructure, financial institutions and digital technologies.
For Uzbekistan, the next task is to translate the existing $2.7 billion in additional export potential into actual trade, expand joint production chains with OTS countries, reduce transport costs and use new financial mechanisms to support private-sector projects.
Accordingly, the criteria for assessing economic integration within the OTS are also evolving. Trade turnover and investment volumes remain important indicators, but they are increasingly complemented by delivery times, logistics costs, industrial cooperation, joint projects, digital services and mobilized private capital.
It is this transition — from trade in goods toward an interconnected system of production, transport, finance and digital infrastructure — that increasingly defines the new economic substance of cooperation among the Turkic states.
Latofat Burieva
Center for Economic Research and Reforms
In the modern history of New Uzbekistan, protecting the rights, freedoms, and legitimate interests of its citizens – wherever in the world they may be – has become not merely a constitutional obligation, but the highest expression of the state's humanity and responsibility. One of the most challenging yet strategically significant tests of this commitment has been the repatriation of compatriots from conflict zones in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Uzbekistan was among the first countries in the world to shift from a policy of "estrangement" to one of "return and compassion," developing a distinctive rehabilitation model in the process.
The first such humanitarian operation was launched exactly seven years ago – on May 30, 2019 – on the personal directive of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. During that mission, 156 Uzbek nationals – predominantly women and children – were brought home from war-ravaged Syria. It was a defining moment: for the first time, the state openly declared its readiness to embrace citizens who had gone astray.
That operation marked the beginning of a series of missions conducted under the collective name "Mehr" (meaning compassion in Uzbek). The core philosophy behind President Mirziyoyev's initiative is that Uzbek citizens who found themselves in conflict zones through misguided choices retain the right to state protection and the opportunity for a new life.
Each mission was unique in its logistics, risk profile, and the circumstances of those being brought home. The second operation, Mehr-2, carried out in October 2019, was notable for the evacuation of 64 children from Baghdad, Iraq – children whose mothers remained imprisoned abroad and for whom Uzbekistan assumed full guardianship.
In December 2020, despite the sweeping restrictions of the global pandemic, Mehr-3 rescued 98 women and children from the Al-Hol and Roj camps in Syria, where they had been living in dire sanitary conditions. Many of the children bore shrapnel wounds and suffered from serious chronic illnesses. The operation was conducted with technical support from the United States and international organizations.
Mehr-4, carried out in February 2021, focused on Afghanistan, securing the return of 24 citizens caught in the crossfire of that country's protracted war.
The final stage, Mehr-5, was completed in April 2021, bringing home 92 individuals from Syria – 24 women and 68 children, including 7 who were complete orphans. This operation also refined a rapid documentation protocol: birth certificates were issued to children directly at the airport, ensuring they received immediate legal status upon arrival.
In total, the Mehr operations have repatriated more than 530 individuals, approximately 75% of whom are children. The guiding principle throughout has been unequivocal: children cannot be held responsible for the choices of their parents.
Repatriation is far more than a logistical exercise – it is the complex process of transforming yesterday's outcasts into full members of society. The Uzbek model rests on five pillars:
The outcomes of Uzbekistan's repatriation program are recognized by the international community as one of the most successful humanitarian models in the world. The United Nations has officially recommended the "Uzbek model" as a roadmap for other governments. Former UN Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov has repeatedly highlighted it as an example of how a state can effectively combine justice with compassion.
Rehabilitation and reintegration initiatives have also been advanced at the regional level. At the high-level international conference "Regional Cooperation of Central Asian Countries within the Framework of the Joint Plan of Action for the Implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy," held in Tashkent on March 3–4, 2022, President Mirziyoyev proposed the establishment, under the auspices of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, of a Regional Expert Council comprising leading specialists from Central Asian countries.
The Council was launched in May 2024, embodying broad support for the collaborative implementation of comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration programs for individuals returned from conflict zones. It comprises more than 40 highly qualified experts from across Central Asia, including representatives of law enforcement and judicial bodies, as well as psychologists, theologians, medical professionals, and social workers.
The project has gained further credibility through the participation of prominent international bodies, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), and the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ).
The Council's work has been presented at key UN platforms: in Geneva and New York on November 11 and December 10, 2024, respectively, and in Vienna on May 21, 2025.
Uzbekistan has demonstrated to the international community that repatriation is not a security risk – it is an instrument for strengthening security. International organizations are investing in Uzbekistan today not to remedy a problem, but to scale its success to other regions of the world.
The work with repatriates in Uzbekistan has now moved from a phase of emergency rescue to one of systemic integration. The country operates a well-functioning mechanism that combines state support with community oversight. The state ensures the full legal "erasure" of repatriates' past so that it does not obstruct their future. Where the early focus was on physical health, the emphasis has now shifted to mental wellbeing and civic identity. A repatriate in Uzbekistan in 2026 is a taxpayer, an active participant in mahalla life, and a parent whose children are building their futures within the country.
In contrast to those who chose to close their borders to their own citizens, Uzbekistan's leadership chose the path of responsibility. The country's experience affirms that when a state extends a hand, society grows stronger – and security becomes unshakeable.
Uzbekistan's motto in this sphere is clear: "Children cannot be terrorists" – and every Uzbek citizen will always remain under the protection of their homeland.
Timur Akhmedov,
Head of Department,
Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
At the end of Q1 2026, the republic’s exports of goods and services demonstrated a steady growth trend.
During the reporting period, exports totaled $5.8 bn, increasing by 26%, or $1.2 bn, compared to the same period last year.
Export growth was driven primarily by the expansion of shipments of higher value-added products and raw materials. In particular, exports of natural uranium amounted to $402.6 mn, increasing by $196 mn, or 95%. Exports of non-ferrous metals reached $248.7 mn, up by $137 mn, with a twofold increase recorded. Exports of oil and gas products totaled $160 mn, rising by $20 mn, or 15%.
Positive dynamics were also observed in manufacturing industries. Textile exports reached $731 mn, increasing by $110 mn, or 18%. Exports of construction materials totaled $304 mn, up by $130 mn, or 75%. Exports of jewelry products reached $214 mn, increasing by $75 mn, or 54%.
Sustained growth was also recorded in agricultural and food exports. Fruit and vegetable exports reached $320 mn, increasing by $34 mn, or 12%. Food product exports totaled $282 mn, increasing by $47 mn, or 120%.
Strong growth was also achieved in services. During the reporting period, services exports amounted to $2.2 bn, increasing by 35%, or $573 mn, compared to last year.
Regional export activity also expanded. In Andijan region, exports increased by $83 mn, or 74%; in Khorezm region by $27 mn, or 66%; in Navoi region by $15 mn, or 42%; in Fergana region by $54 mn, or 42%; in Namangan region by $43 mn, or 31%; in Syrdarya region by $17 mn, or 29%; and in Samarkand region by $54 mn, or 28%. In Tashkent city, exports grew by $178 mn, or 42%.
Export growth was recorded in 147 districts and cities across the republic.
The geography of exports continues to expand. In January–March of the current year, previously non-exported goods worth $162 mn across more than 140 product categories were supplied for the first time to 86 countries, including the United States, Austria, Belarus, Poland, South Korea, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan.
In particular, exports to Hong Kong included jewelry, solar panels, semiconductors, brass products, and spare parts worth $42.1 mn. Exports to Afghanistan included truck cranes, aluminum products, oilcake, metal fittings, pipes, and other goods worth $19.8 mn. Exports to the United States included carpets, rug fabrics, electrical equipment, solar panels, and other goods worth $9.4 mn.
In addition, exports amounted to $2.3 mn to Poland, $3.8 mn to Kazakhstan, $3.2 mn to Belarus, $1.7 mn to Austria, $1.1 mn to the United Kingdom, $1.1 mn to Iran, and $649.3 thousand to South Korea.
As a result of efforts to involve new businesses in export activity, 702 new business entities joined export operations during the reporting period. Their exports totaled $270 mn. As a result, the total number of exporting enterprises reached 4 thousand.
Within the national export support system, financial and organizational assistance to exporting enterprises continued. Through the Trade Promotion Fund, 405 exporters received financial support totaling 32.3 bn soums, while these companies exported goods worth $98.9 mn. Every $1 of state support generated $38.9 in exports.
In addition, the Light Industry Agency provided financial assistance totaling 8.8 bn soums to 212 exporters.
The achieved results confirm the effectiveness of the measures being implemented in the country to expand export potential, diversify the product range, and strengthen competitiveness in foreign markets.
Center for Economic Research and Reforms Media Sector
On the Inaugural Meeting of the Peace Council in Washington
At the invitation of the President of the United States Donald Trump, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid a working visit to Washington on February 17–19 to participate in the inaugural meeting of the Peace Council. The visit combined a substantive political agenda with an extensive economic program and resulted in a number of agreements aimed at further strengthening Uzbek-American strategic partnership and expanding bilateral cooperation across key sectors.
Expanding Participation in Addressing Global Challenges
The Peace Council is an intergovernmental initiative put forward by President Trump within the framework of the Gaza peace plan endorsed by the UN Security Council in November 2025. The establishment of this platform is intended not only to coordinate humanitarian assistance but also to create institutional mechanisms for long-term stabilization, reconstruction, and socio-economic recovery of the Gaza Strip, while reducing the risks of renewed escalation in the Middle East.
The Charter of the Peace Council was signed on January 22, 2026, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Signatories included leaders and representatives of Azerbaijan, Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Morocco, Mongolia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and Kosovo. Subsequently, Belarus, Albania, Cambodia, Egypt, El Salvador, Jordan, and Kuwait officially joined the group of founding states, expanding the Council’s geographic and political representation.
By joining the founding members at the invitation of the U.S. President, Uzbekistan reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful diplomacy, respect for international law, and shared responsibility for maintaining global stability. Uzbekistan recognized Palestine in 1994 and consistently supports the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state in accordance with international legal norms and UN resolutions.
Uzbekistan’s policy toward Gaza combines principled political positioning with practical humanitarian engagement. In 2023, Uzbekistan allocated $1.5 mln through UNRWA. In December 2023, 100 wounded Palestinian women and children were evacuated and provided with medical treatment and rehabilitation services. In 2025, Uzbekistan developed a comprehensive state support mechanism for Palestinian citizens received in the country, including asylum procedures, access to healthcare, education for children, and employment assistance. A dedicated fund under the National Agency for Social Protection was established to finance these measures through budgetary and charitable resources.
The inaugural meeting of the Peace Council held on February 19 in Washington brought together leaders and representatives of more than 40 countries. Discussions focused on humanitarian relief, infrastructure restoration, and ensuring the sustainability of the post-conflict recovery process. At the opening of the session, President Trump announced that nine countries – Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait – had jointly pledged $7 bn in assistance to Gaza, while the United States committed an additional $10 bn to support the Council’s activities.
In his address, President Mirziyoyev expressed full support for the peace initiative and confirmed Uzbekistan’s readiness to participate practically in its implementation. Particular emphasis was placed on the principle that any external governance framework for Gaza must rely on internal public support in order to ensure legitimacy, stability, and long-term effectiveness.
Highlighting the importance of coordinated international efforts, the President noted that joint actions would help secure the sustainability of the post-conflict process and accelerate socio-economic recovery. Uzbekistan also declared its readiness to contribute to the construction of residential housing, schools, kindergartens, and healthcare facilities in Gaza, thereby supporting both humanitarian and development objectives.
The Palestinian and Gaza issue has remained on the international agenda for decades without a comprehensive solution. In this context, the creation of the Peace Council represents one of the most structured multilateral attempts in recent years to address the crisis, while Uzbekistan’s participation among the founding states reflects the growing recognition of its constructive diplomatic role.
Expanding Trade and Economic Cooperation
Alongside political dialogue, the economic dimension of the visit formed a central pillar of bilateral engagement. In recent years, Uzbekistan and the United States have steadily restored institutional mechanisms of strategic partnership and expanded practical cooperation.
Cooperation with the U.S. Export-Import Bank resumed in 2017 after a 13-year hiatus. Agreements were concluded between Amazon and Uztrade, while science, technology, and economic modernization were identified among priority cooperation areas. In 2018, a $100 mln memorandum on trade financing was signed between Eximbank and Uzbekistan’s National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity. Cooperation with Openbucks supported the development of e-commerce and digital payment infrastructure.
A major milestone was reached in September 2025 during the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, where negotiations between the two presidents resulted in the formation of a portfolio of contracts and prospective projects exceeding $100 bn. The agreements covered aviation, mining and chemicals, energy, finance, and innovation. Specific arrangements included cooperation with Denali Exploration Group on rare earth elements, Re Element Technologies in rare earth metals, Flowserve on modernization of pumping stations, Valmont Industries on water-saving technologies, and Palo Alto Networks in artificial intelligence.
During the Washington visit, President Mirziyoyev held meetings with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Eximbank President John Jovanovic, DFC CEO Ben Black, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Discussions focused on expanding financing for major industrial and infrastructure projects, supporting high-tech equipment exports, launching a bilateral Investment Platform, advancing Uzbekistan’s WTO accession, and strengthening regional trade cooperation under TIFA. The agreement establishing the Investment Platform was formally signed during the visit.
Additional bilateral documents were concluded covering construction of fuel station networks, sprinkler irrigation technologies, extraction and supply of critical minerals, development of poultry clusters, agro-industrial cooperation, financial market development, and investment climate reforms. The economic agenda was identified as one of the key pillars of Uzbek-American strategic partnership, with priority cooperation areas including critical raw materials, petrochemicals, energy, agriculture, and industrial modernization.
Trade and Investment Dynamics
The intensification of bilateral cooperation has already produced tangible economic results. Between 2017 and 2025, trade turnover increased 4.7-fold from $215 mln to $1 bn. Exports grew 9.1-fold to $291.7 mln, while imports rose 3.9-fold to $712.3 mln.
Exports to the United States are dominated by services (81%), including programming, financial, information, and transport services. Petroleum products account for 8.6%, machinery and equipment 3.7%, food products 3.5%, and industrial goods 3.3%.
Imports from the United States are led by machinery and equipment (59%), including aircraft, vehicles, computing equipment, engines, pumps, and industrial installations. Services account for 20.5%, chemicals 9.7%, industrial goods 3.8%, food products 3.2%, and manufactured goods 2.2%.
Investment cooperation has expanded dynamically. U.S. FDI and loans increased nearly 64-fold from $8.6 mln in 2017 to $383.2 mln in 2025, with cumulative inflows exceeding $2.9 bn. As of February 2026, 346 enterprises with U.S. capital operate in Uzbekistan, including 146 joint ventures and 200 wholly foreign-owned firms. Investments are concentrated in manufacturing, mining, construction, services, and agriculture.
Prospects for Deeper Economic Partnership
Recent dynamics indicate a transition from trade expansion toward long-term technological and industrial partnership. While services dominate exports, significant untapped potential remains in agro-processing, textiles, non-ferrous metallurgy, and higher value-added manufacturing.
Given annual U.S. imports of $118 bn in textiles and apparel, $539 bn in food products, and $213 bn in pharmaceuticals, even limited market penetration could significantly expand Uzbek exports and rebalance their structure.
Technology cooperation represents a separate strategic track. The United States accounts for 45% of Uzbekistan’s IT exports, with 448 of 800 exporters supplying digital services to the U.S. market. The next phase may involve joint industrial production in electronics and microelectronics with companies such as NVIDIA, Intel, and Qualcomm, enabling integration into global value chains.
Energy cooperation could support infrastructure modernization and renewable energy deployment, while pharmaceutical localization and joint R&D with companies such as Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Merck offer additional avenues for technology transfer and investment.
Privatization and PPP initiatives create further opportunities. By 2030, the private sector share in Uzbekistan’s economy is projected to reach 85%, with stakes in 2,000 enterprises planned for sale and $30 bn in PPP projects to be launched. Cooperation with U.S. capital markets, including the NYSE and Nasdaq, may further support the development of Uzbekistan’s financial infrastructure.
Conclusion
President Mirziyoyev’s visit to Washington and participation in the inaugural Peace Council meeting carry both diplomatic and economic significance.
Uzbekistan’s engagement in the Council strengthens its international standing and expands its contribution to addressing global challenges. At the same time, the agreements reached and the expanding portfolio of joint projects elevate Uzbek-American relations to a new stage characterized by deeper institutional cooperation, industrial integration, and long-term strategic trust.
Viktor Abaturov,
Center for Economic Research and Reforms