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Central Asia and Turkiye: A New Phase of Interconnectivity
📅 29.01.2026
The strategic convergence between Turkiye and Central Asian states –driven by shared historical and cultural heritage alongside mutually reinforcing economic interests – is cultivating a novel architectural framework for regional interconnectedness. Through multilateral formats and bilateral initiatives, these actors have been establishing a durable platform for cooperation across trade, energy, transportation, and the “green” economy, transforming geographical proximity into a long-term factor of stability and collective development.
Amidst the diversification of Central Asian countries’ foreign policy vectors and the Turkish diplomacy’s increasing emphasis on the Eurasian dimension, this partnership has been acquiring a systemic character that goes beyond specific projects, thereby shaping a sustainable architecture of regional interconnectedness.
Political Foundations of Institutionalizing the Partnership
The core instrument facilitating political engagement is the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), which has evolved from a cultural and educational association into a regional a center of attraction spanning from Central Asia to the Caucasus and Europe. Regular summit meetings of OTS leaders exemplify a transition to a pragmatic cooperation phase. Particular significance is attributed to Uzbekistan and its President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who has initiated to deepen collaboration within the organization.
At the October 2025 OTS summit in Gabala, Azerbaijan, the Uzbek leader proposed to craft OTS’s Strategy of Development 2030, including the establishment of a Permanent Council for economic partnership headquartered in Tashkent. These initiatives aim to coordinate economic projects, support business initiatives, and enhance the efficiency of interaction – underscoring Uzbekistan’s aspiration to become a regional hub of integration and a platform for sustainable development.
Simultaneously, Turkiye is intensifying its engagement within other multilateral structures relevant to Central Asia, such as Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), where Ankara, holding the status of a partner and strives for full membership. This multi-format engagement allows for flexible adaptation of the agenda to specific priorities – from confidence-building measures in security to the coordination of transport corridors.
On January 20 2026, a meeting of the Joint Strategic Planning Group took place, co-chaired by the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan and Turkiye, confirming mutual readiness to deepen coordination within the UN, OSCE, OIC, and ECO, and to support each other’s candidacies in international organizations. This approach transforms bilateral relations into a component of a broader global diplomatic strategy, where support on the international stage becomes a shared interest.
Economic Dimension: From Trade to Strategic Investments
Since 2018, the bilateral trade volume between Central Asia and Ankara has more than doubled – from 6 billion to14.5 billion in 2025. In the long-term Turkiye has set an ambitious target of reaching $30 billion in bilateral trade with Central Asian region.
The volume of Turkish investments exhibits an even more remarkable trend. From 2016 to 2024, Turkish investments in the region increased 2.5 times – from 1.1 billion to3 billion – significantly surpassing the overall growth of Turkish investments in Eurasia (34%) during the same period. Central Asia accounts for 24% of Turkiye’s total accumulated investments in Eurasia. The number of Turkish companies operating in the region increased from 4,000 in 2016 to over 7,000 in 2025. Turkiye has become Uzbekistan’s third-largest investor (after China and Russia), with more than 2,000 enterprises, including 438 joint ventures.
Turkish business is gradually shifting from small-scale operations to implementing large-scale infrastructure projects across construction, telecommunications, textiles, and agribusiness sectors. Framework documents such as the “OTS Strategy-2026” and the “OTS Strategy-2040,” approved within the OTS, envisage creating a unified economic space –including a common energy grid and a regional development bank. Uzbekistan’s initiatives to expand the activities of the Turkic Investment Fund and the adoption of the “OTS’s Roadmap on Artificial Intelligence and the Creative Economy” indicate a transition towards a high-tech collaboration agenda.
Energy Interdependence: From Hydrocarbons to “Green” Transformation
Central Asia possesses significant hydrocarbon reserves: Kazakhstan holds approximately 30 billion barrels of oil; Turkmenistan ranks fifth globally in natural gas reserves; Uzbekistan has sizable, largely undeveloped deposits. Correspondingly, Turkiye aims to become an energy hub, providing Central Asia with direct access to the European market amid EU’s decarbonization efforts and reduced reliance on Russian supplies.
The Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, initially intended for Azerbaijani oil, has evolved into the Trans-Caspian export route. Kazakhstan has been exporting oil through this corridor since 2008, and Turkmenistan since 2010.
In addition, negotiations are underway concerning the export of Turkmen gas via the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), with plans to double its capacity from 16 to 32 billion cubic meters.
Simultaneously, the countries are actively transitioning to renewable energy sources. In Uzbekistan, the Turkish conglomerate “Cengiz” has completed construction of two power plants totaling 460 MW, with additional facilities exceeding 500 MW under construction in Jizzakh. According to estimates from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan possess immense potential not only for domestic green energy production but also for export.
The culmination of these efforts is exemplified by the Trans-Caspian Green Energy Corridor project – an initiative under the Green Corridor Alliance, a joint Kazakh-Uzbek-Azerbaijani enterprise, with funding from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. It aims to connect the electricity grids of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with Azerbaijan across the Caspian Sea for subsequent export to Turkiye and Europe. An agreement on strategic partnership for this project was signed at COP29 in Baku in 2024.
The Central Corridor: An Artery of Development
The Trans-Caspian route (the Middle Corridor) has gained strategic importance as an alternative land corridor connecting China with Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus, and Turkiye. Forecasts suggest that freight volumes along this route could double by 2030, heightening economic interdependence and boosting its geopolitical relevance.
Uzbekistan actively supports the reinforcement of the Central Corridor, viewing it as a core factor for sustainable regional economic development. The infrastructural interdependence created by this project fosters long-term stability among the countries of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Turkiye, transforming transport cooperation into a tool for regional security enhancement.
Cultural and Humanitarian Dimension: The Foundation of Sustainable Partnership
Historical and cultural links rooted in a common Turkic heritage continue to underpin modern cooperation. The parties are steadily expanding educational programs within the “Turkic World” concept. Several universities operate across Central Asia, including the International University of Turkic States and the Turkish University of Economics and Technology in Uzbekistan. Special attention is given to increasing scholarships for Uzbek students within the “Türkiye Bursları” program and developing joint scholarship initiatives.
Such exchanges in science and culture foster durable horizontal ties among the citizens of Turkiye and Central Asian countries. An increasingly important element is digital cooperation: joint projects in artificial intelligence, digital governance, and creative industries open new avenues for engagement. The expansion of tourism flows and media exchanges also contribute to forming a unified informational and communicational space which is particularly relevant amid the global competition in the modern media environment of information manipulation.
Conclusion
Overall, the partnership between Central Asia and Turkiye reflects a transition from ad hoc interactions to a systematic model of cooperation based on resource, infrastructural, and strategic complementarity. Turkiye gains access to energy resources and transit routes, strengthening its status as an Eurasian hub. In turn, Central Asian states diversify their foreign policy and economic ties, increasing their autonomy and competitiveness.
The future prospects of this partnership hinge on three core vectors: first, deepening economic integration through the OTS and bilateral agreements; second, jointly implementing cross-border infrastructure projects in energy and transportation; third, advancing the “green” and digital agendas as foundations for sustainable development. Achieving these objectives requires ongoing dialogue, regulatory harmonization, and trust-building measures, but it already clear that the Central Asia–Turkiye partnership forms a robust platform for regional stability and collective prosperity in a multipolar world.
Dilorom MAMATKULOVA,
Leading research fellow of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan's key trading partners participate in CICA
📅 25.09.2026
Expanding Uzbekistan’s exports and developing industrial cooperation require reliable logistics, access to capital, and stable and predictable conditions in foreign markets. These objectives occupy an important place on the economic agenda of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), which brings together 28 member states. The Seventh CICA Summit is scheduled to take place in Baku on 15 October 2026. It will be held during Azerbaijan’s chairmanship, whose priorities include connectivity, digitalization, and sustainable growth.
CICA members include some of Uzbekistan’s key trading partners. In the first half of 2026, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye, and Afghanistan together accounted for approximately 53 percent of the country’s total foreign trade turnover. The multilateral platform complements established bilateral relations in areas where the organization of transportation or implementation of investment initiatives requires coordinated participation by several countries.
Cooperation with CIS countries occupies an important place in Uzbekistan’s foreign economic relations. Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with the Commonwealth countries increased from USD 11.8 billion in 2020 to USD 28.1 billion in 2025. In January–July of this year, trade turnover reached USD 18.3 billion, representing a growth rate of 122.7 percent. As of the beginning of August, approximately 5,800 enterprises with capital participation from Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan were operating in Uzbekistan.
Access to different markets requires a network of complementary transport corridors that makes it possible to select delivery routes based on their cost and transit time. At the CICA Summit in Astana in 2022, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev identified the development of production and logistics links between Central Asia and South and East Asia, as well as the Middle East, among the key economic priorities. The knowledge economy and modern technologies were also highlighted as priority areas.
Practical aspects of this agenda were discussed in June 2026 at the Second Termez Dialogue on Connectivity between Central and South Asia. Held with the participation of the CICA Secretariat, the event brought together representatives of 17 CICA member states. Discussions on multimodal routes and digital logistics were accompanied by a visit to the infrastructure of the Termez Cargo Terminal and the Ayritom International Trade Center, which facilitate freight transportation and trade between the regions.
Links with ports in the Caspian region complement the overland transport network by providing access to maritime routes. The conference of heads of ports of CICA member states, held in Baku in September, focused on coordinating maritime, rail, and road transportation, cargo handling, and cooperation among operators.
The transport agenda is closely linked to ongoing work within the CIS aimed at harmonizing technical requirements, ensuring mutual recognition of conformity assessment results, and eliminating non-tariff barriers. Electronic document management helps reduce the time required for cargo clearance and control procedures.
Direct ties between regions and businesses facilitate the identification of partners and platforms for joint projects involving technology transfer, industrial automation, and the development of new materials. Strengthening such ties was a key focus of the First CIS Forum of Regions held in Tashkent in 2025. The CICA Business Council provides additional opportunities for business engagement by promoting cooperation among business associations of CICA member states.
At the CIS Innovative Industry Forum held in Tashkent in April 2026, participants discussed the application of artificial intelligence and cooperation between science and industry.
For small and medium-sized enterprises, participation in such value chains creates opportunities to manufacture components and provide specialized services to large industrial enterprises.
The preparation of joint projects also requires coordination of financing sources. The CICA Financial Summit serves as an additional platform for engagement with relevant national institutions. Its first meeting was held in Astana on 8 September 2026. Its consultative agenda covers development finance, investment cooperation, and digital solutions. For Uzbekistan, this provides an opportunity to present initiatives in logistics, energy, and industry to potential investors and discuss the terms and conditions for their implementation.
Participation in multilateral formats enables Uzbekistan to build on established partnerships when entering new markets and preparing joint projects. The economic impact of such cooperation is reflected in the establishment of new production facilities, long-term export contracts, and an increase in the value added generated in Uzbekistan.
Seek reward for enlightenment. About reading books and the development of book reading in Uzbekistan
📅 22.07.2024
In today's New Uzbekistan, a lot of attention is paid to the development of reading culture and book publishing. As the head of our state says, “There will be no break in education,” in every meeting with representatives of the intellectuals, culture, literature and art, in every historical speech that sounded like an appeal to our people, he paid special attention to the issue of studying and gaining knowledge about the fundamentals world civilization, the achievements of modern world science. He never gets tired of emphasizing the words "knowledge, knowledge, knowledge" over and over again.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev: "Each country in the world, each nation is powerful primarily with its intellectual potential and high spirituality. It is not for nothing that he said that the source of such mighty power is the great discovery of human thinking - books and readers.
Decree of the President of Uzbekistan dated January 12, 2017 "On the establishment of a commission on the development of the system of printing and distribution of book products, the promotion of book reading and reading culture", The decision of September 13, 2017 "On the program of comprehensive measures to develop the system of publication and distribution of book products, increase and promote book reading and reading culture" together with the decision “On additional measures for the further development of the publishing and printing industry”, It is well known that great work has been done on the decisions "On further improvement of information-library services to the residents of the Republic of Uzbekistan".
On December 14, 2020, the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On approval of the national program for the development and support of reading culture in 2020-2025" was adopted.
The processes of implementation of this National Program are showing positive results.
The fourth initiative put forward by our President - to raise the spirituality of young people, to widely promote reading among them - serious practical work is being carried out in our country. Young people, especially teenagers and children, are widely participating in reading contests.
Members of the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan actively participate in events dedicated to book reading and development of reading.The Children's and Adolescent Creative Council operates under the association, master classes are regularly held by well-known poets and writers in all schools, higher and secondary educational institutions of our country.
By the Administration of the Republic of Uzbekistan in April-May of this year in order to attract students and pupils of all higher educational institutions and general education schools in our country to reading books, to raise the level of artistic literacy and educate them in the spirit of patriotism and concern for the future of our country as part of the “Sharing Enlightenment” project, 156 famous artists held meetings with writers and educational events in 202 higher educational institutions and 606 secondary schools, under their auspices. At these events, 150 works of art were recommended for reading, films and performances were shown.
During 2020-2023, the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan published 403 books in the fields of prose, poetry, playwriting, children's literature, literary studies, and artistic translation. Over the past years, our poets, writers and translators prepared 100-volume "Masterpieces of Russian Literature" and 100-volume "Masterpieces of Turkish Literature" for publication. This great project was supported by the Head of State, published and distributed to the regions.
At this point, it should be noted that the 16-volume set of books entitled "Masterpieces of Karakalpak Literature" was prepared for publication and submitted to the press by the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan.
Within the framework of the "Book campaign" project, in the first quarter of 2023, 4,679 books were sent to higher education institutions, general education schools, 14,800 books to the provinces, 50 books to the penal colony, 950 to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Spirituality, Information and Library Centers, 500 to the State Security Service, 7,267 to event participants, book authors, 461 to newspapers and creative houses, 300 to Uzbekistan-Kyrgyz Friendship Society, 350 to neighborhoods, 134 to the Office of Muslims, More than 30 thousand 791 books were distributed indiscriminately to Uzbekistan "Veteran" Association of combatants-veterans and disabled people, 500 books to Halq Bank, and 600 books to children's camp. To date, more than 1 million books have been distributed in four years.
At the moment, the 100-volume set of books "Masterpieces of World Children's Literature" is being prepared for publication by the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan.
In 2020-2023, the first books of 87 young authors were published in tens of thousands of copies each in the "My first book" project by the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan, and presentation events were held. The books were freely distributed to higher education institutions, general education schools, and military units.
All these are aimed primarily at the development of reading among young people, children and adolescents. Publication of books and promotion of book reading will be continued consistently.
Nearly all initiatives put forward by the President of Uzbekistan at the OTS summit in Turkestan were practical in nature
📅 19.05.2026
On May 15, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid a working visit to the city of Turkestan, where he took part in the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States. The visit featured an extensive political, economic, and humanitarian agenda, as well as a series of high-level bilateral meetings. In an interview with the correspondent of Dunyo IA, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan Akramjon Nematov shared his views on the significance of the summit, emerging trends in the development of the OTS, and Uzbekistan’s initiatives.
— President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s participation in the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Turkestan was highly intensive both in terms of substance and the number of bilateral engagements. In your opinion, what made this visit particularly noteworthy and distinctive?
— First and foremost, I would note that this visit reflected a qualitatively new stage both in the development of the Organization of Turkic States itself and in the role of Central Asia within the emerging architecture of Eurasian cooperation.
Notably, the summit agenda extended far beyond cultural and humanitarian cooperation to encompass issues directly linked to future economic and technological development — digitalization, artificial intelligence, transport connectivity, and innovation. This reflects the OTS’s gradual transformation into a more pragmatic platform oriented toward practical cooperation.
Such an approach is particularly close to Uzbekistan, as our country has consistently advocated open, mutually beneficial, and technology-driven cooperation across Eurasia. Amid ongoing global transformation, connectivity, resilient supply chains, digital infrastructure, and joint industrial development are becoming key determinants of long-term regional competitiveness.
Another distinctive feature of the summit is the increasingly prominent role of Central Asia as an independent center of regional dynamism. It is symbolic that the meeting took place in Turkestan, one of the most important spiritual and historical centers of the Turkic world. This underscores the growing importance of our region not only as a space of shared historical and cultural heritage, but also as a major hub of economic, transport, and humanitarian connectivity.
Particular attention should be paid to the bilateral meetings held by the President of Uzbekistan with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, and President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. These meetings demonstrated the high level of trust and intensity of regional dialogue.
In particular, talks with the Kyrgyz side focused on advancing major infrastructure projects, above all the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway. Today, such projects carry not merely transport significance but strategic importance, as they are shaping a new geoeconomic configuration of Eurasia and strengthening Central Asia’s role as a key transit, manufacturing, and logistics hub.
The meeting with the Turkish leader also confirmed that Uzbek-Turkish relations have reached the level of a stable comprehensive strategic partnership. This is no longer solely about expanding trade or investment, but about building long-term cooperation in industry, technology, logistics, education, and other sectors.
The humanitarian dimension of the visit was equally significant. The visit to the mosque built by the Uzbek side in Turkestan became a vivid symbol of the strengthening fraternal ties between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and reflected the shared historical, spiritual, and cultural affinity of the two peoples. Importantly, the humanitarian dimension is increasingly serving as a natural complement to economic and political cooperation in the region.
In a broader context, the visit confirms that Uzbekistan continues to pursue an open and balanced foreign policy aimed at fostering constructive engagement with all partners. It is fundamentally important that the countries of Central Asia view Turkic cooperation not as a closed geopolitical project, but as part of a broader architecture of inclusive and mutually beneficial cooperation across Eurasia.
This is precisely why Central Asia is increasingly asserting itself as an independent actor in international relations with its own agenda based on the principles of good-neighborliness, connectivity, pragmatism, and shared responsibility for the region’s sustainable development.
— What agenda did Uzbekistan bring to the informal OTS summit in Turkestan, and what, in your view, was particularly noteworthy about the initiatives put forward by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev?
— Uzbekistan presented at the summit of the Organization of Turkic States a highly comprehensive yet pragmatic agenda aimed not only at strengthening the cultural and civilizational commonality of the Turkic world, but above all at shaping a new architecture of technological, transport, investment, and humanitarian cooperation.
What distinguished President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s address was its emphasis on transforming the OTS from a predominantly political and cultural platform into a mechanism for practical integration in the most promising and strategically sensitive areas of the 21st century — artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, logistics, climate security, and cyber resilience.
Notably, Uzbekistan effectively proposed a conceptual vision for a “Digital Turkic Space.” The discussion has moved beyond cultural affinity or expanding trade toward the creation of a common technological ecosystem. It was in this context that the initiative to establish a strategic cooperation network in the field of artificial intelligence was advanced, along with the concept of a “Digital Turkic Corridor” designed to connect regional data centers and digital platforms through high-speed communication channels.
It is especially important that the President of Uzbekistan linked the digital agenda with the historical and intellectual heritage of Turkic civilization. References to Muhammad al-Khorazmiy, Ahmad al-Farganiy, Abu Rayhan al-Beruniy, and Mirzo Ulugbek gave the speech greater depth and intellectual dimension. In doing so, it was emphasized that modern technological modernization is viewed not as an external borrowing, but as a natural continuation of the region’s own scientific legacy.
Another important feature was Uzbekistan’s promotion of the institutionalization of cooperation. Virtually all of the President’s initiatives were practical in nature and aimed at establishing concrete mechanisms of interaction — a joint venture fund with Kazakhstan, a Technology Forum in Tashkent, a big data platform for consolidating shared cultural heritage, a Turkic Cybersecurity Alliance, and a climate risk monitoring system based on satellite data.
It is also indicative that Uzbekistan consistently promotes the nexus between digitalization, transport connectivity, and security. Particular emphasis in the speech was placed on integrating the Middle Corridor with the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, the digitalization of customs procedures, and the launch of a unified logistics space. In essence, this involves the formation of a new Eurasian transport and technological framework in which Central Asia becomes not a periphery, but one of the key hubs.
The environmental dimension of the initiatives also deserves special attention. Uzbekistan proposed viewing the climate agenda as an issue of collective security for the Turkic space. The initiative to declare 2027 the Year of Environmental Protection within the OTS framework, along with proposals for joint monitoring of droughts, soil degradation, and glacier melt, reflects the intention to provide the Organization with a more modern and globally relevant agenda.
Equally important is that amid growing international turbulence, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev placed special emphasis on trust, coordination, and collective resilience. The proposal to establish a Turkic Cybersecurity Alliance reflects the understanding that emerging threats are increasingly taking shape not only in the traditional military-political sphere, but also in the digital domain.
Overall, Uzbekistan’s address demonstrated that Tashkent views the OTS as a long-term platform for strategic cooperation capable of becoming one of the independent centers of technological, economic, and humanitarian development across Eurasia. At the same time, the distinguishing feature of Uzbekistan’s approach lies in its combination of pragmatism, institutional thinking, and the concept of open regional connectivity.
— How would you assess the overall outcomes of the OTS summit, and what is its practical significance today?
— Viewed in a broader strategic context, the recently concluded summit of the Organization of Turkic States demonstrated that the OTS is gradually moving beyond a predominantly symbolic and humanitarian model of interaction toward becoming a fully-fledged platform for practical cooperation in a rapidly changing world.
And this is perhaps the principal outcome of the meeting in Turkestan.
Today, the international system is undergoing a period of profound transformation. Geopolitical fragmentation is intensifying, competition for transport routes, technologies, resources, and markets is growing, and established logistics chains are being disrupted. The importance of infrastructure resilience, energy security, digital sovereignty, and food stability is steadily increasing. Against this backdrop, states are increasingly seeking regional formats of cooperation capable of ensuring resilience to external shocks.
It is precisely in this context that the outcomes of the OTS summit should be viewed.
The practical significance of the meeting lies primarily in the fact that the countries of the Turkic world have begun discussing not abstract integration ideas, but concrete mechanisms for joint development — transport corridors, digital infrastructure, technological cooperation, climate resilience, logistics, and cybersecurity.
It is highly indicative that virtually all speeches delivered by the leaders focused, in one way or another, on connectivity and resilience. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the need to strengthen the transport and transit potential of the Turkic space and further develop the Middle Corridor. President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed the importance of logistics integration and expanding economic cooperation among OTS member states. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev paid particular attention to transport connectivity and the region’s role in shaping new Eurasian routes. All of this reflects a shared understanding that transport, logistics, and infrastructure connectivity are becoming the foundation of the new regional economy.
In this regard, Central Asia is gradually transforming into one of the key hubs of Eurasia. The region is no longer perceived solely as a transit space. Today, the focus is on the emergence of a new manufacturing, logistics, and investment hub linking East and West, North and South.
That is why such importance is attached to the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, the integration of the Middle Corridor, the digitalization of customs procedures, and the development of data centers and logistics platforms. In effect, a new infrastructural geography of Eurasia is taking shape.
It is particularly important that the summit clearly highlighted the interconnection between transport connectivity, digitalization, and security. Today, the resilience of states is determined not only by military capabilities, but also by their ability to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of transport corridors, energy networks, digital infrastructure, and supply chains.
In this sense, Uzbekistan’s initiatives appear highly timely and strategically sound. The proposals to establish a “Digital Turkic Corridor,” a Turkic Cybersecurity Alliance, a climate risk monitoring system, and joint artificial intelligence platforms reflect an understanding that competition in the 21st century will increasingly unfold in the technological and infrastructural domains.
The climate agenda also deserves special attention. Just a few years ago, such issues were perceived as secondary, whereas today they are directly linked to economic resilience and security. Water scarcity, soil degradation, and extreme weather events have a direct impact on energy, agriculture, transport, and migration processes. Therefore, Uzbekistan’s proposal to establish climate risk monitoring mechanisms and declare 2027 the Year of Environmental Protection appears especially timely and relevant.
It is also noteworthy that the summit demonstrated a high level of political trust among the Central Asian states. Just a few years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine such an intensive level of regional interaction. Today, however, Central Asia is acting no longer as an object of major powers’ foreign policies, but as an independent actor in international relations capable of shaping its own agenda and advancing major regional initiatives.
Overall, it can be said that the practical value of the summit lies in strengthening the region’s long-term resilience. The focus is on creating mechanisms that will enable the countries of the Turkic space to jointly adapt to global transformations — technological, economic, climatic, and geopolitical.
For this reason, the current summit should be viewed not merely as a diplomatic event, but as an important stage in shaping a new model of regional cooperation across Eurasia based on pragmatism, connectivity, technological development, and collective resilience.
Dunyo IA
Uzbekistan launches a brand new media bankfeaturing high-quality photo and video materials
📅 13.06.2026
The Content Preparation Center for Mass Media under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan has launched, for the first time in Uzbekistan, an innovative media bank — the Aura.uz platform. It consolidates photo and video materials showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage, unique nature, modern cities, and way of life.
The primary objective of the platform is to promote Uzbekistan’s positive image to both local and international audiences through high-quality visual content.
Currently, Aura.uz hosts nearly 6 terabytes of data, comprising more than 12,000 photos, videos, and infographics. The platform is continuously updated with around 200 new items daily.
A dedicated service has been established for the collection and publication of content. In addition, the archive has been formed using materials from the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan (MTRC), press services of ministries and government agencies, as well as the national news agency UzA.
This project aims to address a key issue in Uzbekistan’s media landscape — the shortage of high-quality visual content. As a result, it is expected to significantly increase (by up to 1,000 times) the global volume of professional photo and video materials about Uzbekistan.
Today, many local and international video creators, bloggers, and media professionals encounter outdated or low-quality content, often containing captions, subtitles, or watermarks, when searching for visual resources. In particular, finding modern footage — especially region-specific or drone-shot visuals — remains a challenge.
The platform features:
— exclusively high-quality content (HD, Full HD, 4K and above);
— materials provided without captions, logos, or subtitles;
— videos available in both horizontal (16:9) and vertical (9:16) formats;
— a convenient search system allowing access by season, time (day/night), region, and category;
— most importantly, all files are available for free use.
The content is systematically categorized into areas such as art, urban development, sports, historical landmarks, nature, and national traditions.
Materials of national significance are also compiled separately. In particular, videos related to the visits of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as well as content dedicated to the “New Uzbekistan” concept, are available in dedicated sections.
The platform is open, allowing contributors to upload their own materials. A monetization system is planned for future implementation.
Aura.uz is an innovative media platform that presents the modern visual image of Uzbekistan to the world.
President of Uzbekistan points to the need of enriching partnership with the UAE
📅 16.12.2024
The issues of further expansion of practical interaction and promotion of investment cooperation projects were discussed at the meeting between President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the delegation of the United Arab Emirates comprising Minister of Industry and Advanced Technologies Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohammed Al Mazroui.
At the beginning of the conversation, Sultan Al Jaber conveyed to the Head of our State sincere greetings and best wishes from the President of the Emirates Sheikh Mohamed Al Nahyan, Prime Minister of the country, Emir of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum and Vice President Sheikh Mansour Al Nahyan.
In the course of the meeting, the current highest level of Uzbek-Emirati multifaceted relations was noted with special satisfaction. The volumes of mutual trade turnover, the number of joint ventures and the frequency of flights are growing. The portfolio of ongoing and promising projects with the participation of leading Emirati companies in Uzbekistan reaches $20 billion.
Green energy is the driving force behind bilateral cooperation. Today, a 500 megawatt wind farm was commissioned in Navoi region, a project implemented by Masdar.
In general, in recent years with the participation of this company power generation facilities with total capacity of 1.5 gigawatts have been commissioned in our country.
Particular attention was paid to the early preparation and implementation of major investment projects in the energy, oil and gas and chemical industries, mining, water supply, household waste processing and other fields.
The importance of continuing productive contacts at all levels and careful preparation for the upcoming high-level events was noted.
‘Mustaqillik’ Generation: New Navigators of the Silk Road
📅 14.08.2026
Sadriddin Suyarov,
Journalist
A Tashkent evening in midsummer can resemble a vibrant Mediterranean metropolis transplanted into the heart of Central Asia.
On a summer terrace in the city center, young people move effortlessly between Uzbek and English while discussing a new fintech startup. A few kilometers away, their peers are presenting an exhibition where traditional Uzbek ikat textiles meet digital art.
This is more than a snapshot of modern Tashkent. It is the face of Uzbekistan in 2026, a country marking the 35th anniversary of its independence.
Three and a half decades may be a brief moment in history, but for Uzbekistan, the anniversary carries a particular meaning. More than 60 percent of the population is under 30. Those turning 35 today are, in a sense, the same age as the independent Uzbek state itself. They are known as the ‘Mustaqillik Generation’ - Generation of Independence.
They have no personal memory of shortages, the Iron Curtain or a centrally planned economy. Their worldview was shaped instead by global connectivity, increasingly open borders and sweeping reforms of the past decade. Today, this generation is increasingly taking the helm and helping define Uzbekistan’s future.
From Caravans to Code
For centuries, the Silk Road connected East and West through Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Shakhrisabz. Today, that historic exchange is taking on a new form.
Caravans have given way to fiber-optic networks, while technology hubs are emerging where caravanserais once stood. The most valuable resources of the new Silk Road are no longer silk and spices, but data, technology and human capital.
Over the past several years, Uzbekistan has made a significant leap in the IT sector, moving from a regional consumer of technology toward an exporter of digital services. At the center of this transformation is IT Park Uzbekistan, which has created an ecosystem for technology companies and helped connect them with international markets. Uzbek digital services are increasingly reaching clients in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the UAE, and beyond.
Behind these figures are individual stories. Young programmer and entrepreneur Ziyobek Turdiev, drawing on his experience in a U.S.-based logistics company specializing in vehicle transportation, founded TheCarGo, an AI-powered platform designed for American auto-transport brokers. Today, the company serves the US market and continues to expand.
His experience reflects a broader transformation: for a growing number of young Uzbeks, global markets can be reached from Tashkent itself.
This transformation has been supported by economic liberalization and a strong emphasis on education. Programs such as ‘One Million Uzbek Coders’ opening of branches of leading foreign universities and tax incentives for the IT sector have helped create an environment where entrepreneurship and innovation can flourish.
A New Diplomacy of Openness
Historic Silk Road prospered when trade routes were open and travelers could move freely between its cities. Uzbekistan’s recent transformation has increasingly revived this principle.
Introduction of visa-free travel for citizens of more than 90 countries has helped turn Uzbekistan from one of the region’s more difficult destinations to access into an increasingly attractive tourism and business hub.
But the change goes deeper than mobility. Over the past decade, constitutional reform, stronger protection of human rights, the ban on forced labor and a greater role for civil society have contributed to a broader transformation of Uzbekistan’s social and political landscape.
A younger generation of lawyers, diplomats, civil servants and entrepreneurs, many educated at universities in Europe, the United States and Asia, is bringing international experience into national practice.
Their growing engagement is also visible on the global stage. The 14th UNESCO Youth Forum, held in Samarkand in October 2025, brought together 145 young leaders from 135 UNESCO Member States and Associate Members. Held for the first time in Central Asia, the forum focused on climate action and its social impact on young people, while Uzbek participants contributed to discussions on climate and cultural heritage.
A More Connected Central Asia
This opening has also changed Uzbekistan’s role in Central Asia.
Rather than being defined by the rivalries of the past, the region is increasingly becoming a space for cooperation, connectivity and shared economic opportunity. Young entrepreneurs and activists from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are increasingly working together across borders, seeing Central Asia less as a geopolitical fault line and more as a shared home.
Recent youth initiatives illustrate this shift. The international ‘Eco-Zakovat’ intellectual tournament in Samarkand brought together around 150 young participants from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.
Eco-Camp 2026 in Tashkent Region brought together around 300 young environmental activists for discussions, competitions and practical initiatives focused on environmental protection.
For this generation, regional cooperation is becoming less a diplomatic slogan and more a natural way of thinking and acting.
Tradition Reimagined
‘Mustaqillik Generation’ is also redefining how Uzbekistan presents its cultural identity to the world.
Traditional textiles such as adras and khan-atlas, produced through the distinctive ikat technique, are being reimagined by young designers and combined with contemporary fashion. Uzbek patterns and craftsmanship are increasingly appearing in collections aimed at audiences in Paris, Milan, New York and other global cultural centers.
Young designers such as Nigora Hashimova and Marjona Sadinova illustrate this new creative confidence, bringing Uzbek-inspired designs to international platforms.
Country’s participation in the 2026 Venice Biennale, through its national pavilion The Aural Sea, offers another example. Bringing together Uzbek artists, young creatives and international collaborators, the pavilion explores the ecological transformation of the Aral Sea through contemporary art and storytelling.
Cultural revival is not simply about preserving the past. Traditional crafts, from Rishtan ceramics to Bukhara gold embroidery, are also supporting local communities, creating economic opportunities and sustaining environmentally responsible production.
For international audiences, this creates a different image of Uzbekistan: not a country frozen in its historical heritage, but a living cultural space where tradition and innovation coexist.
The Age of Conscious Maturity
For an individual, 35 can mark the transition from youthful ambition to greater maturity and a clearer understanding of one’s place in the world. For a state, meaning can be much the same.
As Uzbekistan marks 35 years of independence, its transformation is increasingly becoming more than a government-led process. It is being reinforced by a generation that has grown up with greater access to information, greater mobility and a stronger connection to the outside world.
This generation may ultimately prove to be the most important guarantee that Uzbekistan’s opening to the world will continue.
Modern Uzbekistan is therefore revealing itself in a new light. It is no longer simply viewed through the prism of its Soviet past or as an exotic destination along the old Silk Road. It is emerging as a dynamic, increasingly open and future-oriented state, with an expanding role in the economic and diplomatic architecture of Central Asia.
The great legacy of the Silk Road was never only about trade. At its heart was the movement of people, ideas, knowledge and cultures.
Today, a new generation of Uzbeks is carrying that legacy forward - not with caravans, but with technology, entrepreneurship, diplomacy and creativity.
As Uzbekistan celebrates the 35th Anniversary of its Independence, it is not merely commemorating its past. It is writing a new chapter in its global story.
Uzbekistan-Tajikistan Alliance: Towards Further Expansion of Multidimensional Cooperation
📅 25.03.2026
The upcoming visit of the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, to Uzbekistan on March 26–27 is set to provide additional momentum to Uzbek-Tajik relations, which have demonstrated steady positive dynamics in recent years.
Today, bilateral ties are on the rise, experiencing the best period in their history. Tashkent and Dushanbe have successfully resolved long-standing issues, creating a solid foundation for a transition to a qualitatively new stage of engagement. While cooperation was previously characterized as episodic and largely dependent on opportunistic factors, it has now acquired a systemic, multi-level, and strategic nature.
The consistent and far-sighted policies of the two heads of state have played a pivotal role in this process. Regular and trust-based contacts between Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Emomali Rahmon have contributed to the renewal of the entire system of interstate relations, imparting a resilient internal dynamic.
Since 2017, the leaders of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have held over 40 meetings, underscoring a shared political will for the consistent development of cooperation. The logical culmination of this course was the signing of the Treaty on Allied Relations in 2024, which institutionalized the long-term strategic character of their interaction. The upcoming negotiations are expected to consolidate achieved results and define new benchmarks for the partnership.
This atmosphere of trust has been reinforced by a robust institutional framework. Regular consultations between foreign ministries, expanded cooperation across line agencies, and the effective work of the Intergovernmental Commission form a stable architecture for bilateral engagement. The inter-parliamentary dimension has also strengthened significantly: the cooperation group established in 2020 provides essential support for initiatives and oversees their implementation.
The intensive political dialogue is naturally reflected in the economy, which serves as a barometer of profound structural changes. Since 2017, bilateral trade turnover has increased nearly fourfold – from $237 million to over $900 million by the end of 2025 – demonstrating sustainable growth. Furthermore, the trade structure is evolving: alongside traditional commodities, the share of high-value-added products, such as textiles, construction materials, electrical engineering, and machinery, is increasing. This indicates a transition to a more diversified model of economic engagement aimed at reaching the $2 billion mark in the medium term.
Simultaneously, the focus is gradually shifting from trade to investment and industrial cooperation. Since 2017, the number of enterprises with Tajik capital in Uzbekistan has grown more than 13 times, reaching 343. Uzbek business is also actively expanding in Tajikistan, where approximately 70 companies currently operate, reflecting the growing mutual trust within the business community.
As part of this cooperation, the Uzbek-Tajik Interregional Investment Forum was launched in 2021. In the same year, a joint investment company was established with an authorized capital that subsequently increased more than fourfold – from $12 million to over $50 million. This has provided a financial base for implementing major projects in industry, energy, agriculture, healthcare, banking, and construction.
The development of modern border infrastructure is of substantial importance for further integration. Specifically, the creation of a trade and logistics hub at the "Fotekhobod – Oybek" border crossing will enhance the efficiency of trans-border trade. Concurrently, the Urgut district is being developed as a comprehensive transport, logistics, and trade hub, capable of transforming border areas into centers of economic activity.
Ongoing projects include the establishment of trade, logistics, and medical complexes, as well as a logistics center with a capacity of up to 100 heavy-duty trucks per day. In parallel, efforts are underway to simplify customs procedures. The construction of the Samarkand–Urgut railway line will be a significant step toward reducing transport costs and enhancing regional connectivity.
Equally indicative is the transformation of cooperation in the water and energy sector – traditionally one of the most sensitive issues in the region. Moving away from past competition, the parties are consistently building a pragmatic model that accounts for mutual interests, implementing joint projects to modernize irrigation systems and develop hydropower. This approach demonstrates that even the most complex issues can serve as a basis for sustainable cooperation and development.
The most profound changes are occurring in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. Expanding contacts between citizens, the growth of mutual travel, and the development of cultural and educational exchanges are forming a shared humanitarian space where interstate ties have acquired a new quality.
The liberalization of travel regulations has revitalized tourism cooperation. In June 2022, the Tashkent–Dushanbe passenger train was launched; regular bus routes between Tashkent–Khujand and Kokand–Shaidon were resumed; and air connectivity has expanded, currently reaching 16 flights per week.
As a result, 2.7 million citizens of Tajikistan visited Uzbekistan last year alone, reflecting a high level of mutual trust and openness. Political agreements are increasingly translating into the practical reality of daily interaction.
This process is further bolstered by the historical and ethno-cultural proximity of the two nations. The presence of significant Tajik communities in Uzbekistan and Uzbek communities in Tajikistan makes this cooperation a natural extension of established social and cultural ties. In this context, the humanitarian dimension has become a key factor in the stability of the allied relationship.
Against this backdrop, the upcoming visit of Emomali Rahmon to Tashkent is intended not only to consolidate achieved milestones but also to set new strategic directions for future engagement. Its outcomes will undoubtedly be reflected in concrete projects and initiatives that will further strengthen the bilateral partnership and enhance the resilience of the entire region.
Uzbekistan-Turkey: A New Stage of Cooperation and Prospects for Developing Cultural and Humanitarian Ties
📅 28.01.2026
It is worth noting that one of Uzbekistan’s greatest achievements since independence has been ensuring peace, interethnic harmony, and mutual understanding among its multinational population. In particular, the wise national policy developed in our country in recent years is based on the key idea: “Multinationality is the wealth of Uzbekistan”.
It should be emphasized that cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkey is currently gaining increasing significance in both quantitative and qualitative terms. Relations between the two countries, as a truly new stage of strategic cooperation, clearly demonstrate that historically and today, the Turkish and Uzbek peoples are truly fraternal peoples, not only in ethnic origin but also in spirit. Despite all the changes in historical development, these two fraternal peoples are steadily and diligently strengthening their national statehood, implementing the necessary reforms to remain competitive in a rapidly changing world. In this context, Turkey’s developed industry, achievements in agriculture, tourism potential, extensive statehood experience, and the growing natural interest of Turkish investors in the Uzbek market are of great importance to our country.
This closeness and commonality of approaches are the most reliable guarantee that the development of cultural and humanitarian ties between Uzbekistan and Turkey will continue to strengthen and deepen in the future, for the benefit of the Uzbek and Turkish peoples.
In particular, this is due to the age-old bonds of friendship, brotherhood, and mutual understanding between the Uzbek and Turkish peoples, as well as the similarity of culture, religion, and traditions of the peoples of both countries. This also demonstrates that these relations have deep historical and cultural roots, which provide a solid foundation. Moreover, culturally and historically, these two countries played a central role in the development of the civilization of the Turkic peoples. Therefore, at the 7th summit held in Baku on October 15, 2019, Uzbekistan’s accession to the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States as a full member was highly praised and greeted with enthusiasm by all participating states. It is no exaggeration to say that this event not only strengthened the spirit of brotherhood in the Turkic world but also led to the emergence of a new regular cooperation format between Ankara and Tashkent.
At the 8th Summit of the organization, held in Istanbul on November 12, 2021, its name was changed to the Organization of Turkic States. The Summit also approved the concept of the Turkic world through 2040. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed holding the first summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Uzbekistan in 2022. The proposal was accepted, and the next, 9th summit of the organization was held in Uzbekistan in November 2022.
It is important to emphasize that in 2022, the leaders of the two countries celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 5th anniversary of the establishment of a strategic partnership. Our view is supported by the agreement to strengthen cooperation on reforms in Uzbekistan, implement public-private partnership mechanisms, and deepen partnerships in science, education, art, cinema, tourism, and information.
Furthermore, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh. M. Mirziyoyev is actively implementing a large-scale reform program aimed at expanding Uzbekistan’s economic opportunities and improving the well-being and living standards of the population. The success of this policy, to some extent, depends on elevating our country’s effective relations with its international partners to a qualitatively new level. The special attention is deserved that Uzbekistan is responding to fundamental global changes with a new, proactive, pragmatic, and constructive foreign policy.
The goals of modernizing our country’s economy and enhancing its global competitiveness require strengthening cooperation with foreign partners in industrial cooperation, studying the experience of developed countries, and attracting large-scale foreign investment and high technology. In this regard, notable that the economic development strategies of Uzbekistan and Turkey can complement each other in a number of important areas. This is due to the fact that Turkey is among the 20 largest economies in the world and has achieved high results in such important sectors for Uzbekistan as tourism, textiles, automotive manufacturing, construction, and food processing.
Especially, Turkey’s textile and jewelry industries are among the top five in the world. Forty-four Turkish building contractors are among the world’s top 250 construction companies. This ranks Turkey second only to China, one of the world’s leading economies. While the country’s food industry has successfully entered Western markets and strengthened its position there, the Turkish automotive industry is on the cusp of transitioning from conventional automobile production to mass production of domestically produced electric vehicles. This once again confirms that Turkey is an important economic partner for us. Laying the foundations for a completely new export-oriented economic development model in the New Uzbekistan requires systemic changes across all economic sectors and further strengthening ties with reliable external partners with whom industrial cooperation can be developed in these sectors.
Thus, in recent years, in a historically short period of time, a solid foundation has been laid for revolutionary changes in Uzbek-Turkish relations that will last for centuries — important programmatic plans have been developed and decisive practical steps have been taken. There is no doubt that this development of relations will further enhance the prestige of Uzbekistan and Turkey on the international stage, ensure stable economic growth in both countries, the socioeconomic well-being of their peoples, and the full realization of their creative potential.
Turkey and Uzbekistan are actively developing not only bilateral relations but also cooperation in multilateral formats. Participation in the Organization of Turkic-Speaking States is also an important component of international cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkey.
Currently, Uzbekistan has created ample opportunities for citizens of more than 130 different nationalities to actively participate in socioeconomic, political, legal, spiritual, and educational life, to recognize their national identity, and to preserve their ethnic values. Also, interethnic harmony and religious tolerance, national unity and solidarity are envisaged, and, above all, the upbringing of a harmoniously developed generation that understands its national identity based on a rich historical and spiritual heritage, national values, customs and traditions, possesses a high sense of national pride and has a worldview formed on the basis of universal human values, modern technology, and scientific achievements.
Currently, in the New Uzbekistan, unity and mutual understanding are the main principles of policy in the sphere of interethnic relations, aimed at maintaining unity and harmony in society, where an important aspect is not only protecting the interests of various ethnic groups but also shaping a civic identity based on respect and consideration for the rights of others.
In the area of interethnic relations, Decree No. DP-52 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan as of March 19, 2025, “On measures to advance to a new stage in strengthening nationwide unity and relations with compatriots abroad”, was adopted. In this decree, the harmonization of interethnic relations in society and the formation of a unified civic identity through strengthening friendship, mutual solidarity, tolerance, and unity in society are defined as one of the priority tasks for strengthening national harmony and ties with compatriots abroad.
The Committee is designated as the authorized republican executive body implementing state policy in the area of interethnic relations, supporting compatriots abroad, and coordinating the activities of state bodies in this area.
The Committee’s primary objectives are: harmonizing interethnic relations, forming a unified civic identity by strengthening friendship, mutual solidarity, tolerance, and unity in society; strengthening the involvement of all nationalities and peoples living in Uzbekistan in national development by ensuring their rights and legitimate interests; developing socio-cultural and friendly ties with foreign countries through public diplomacy; supporting the mobilization of the socio-economic potential of compatriots abroad for the development of our Homeland; and systematically analyzing issues of national unity among the people of Uzbekistan and compatriots abroad in the name of common societal goals.
The Committee has taken significant steps to develop cooperation with the USA, Canada, China, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and several other countries to elevate the consistent implementation of state policy toward compatriots living abroad to a new level.
Currently, the Committee implements state policy aimed at ensuring interethnic harmony and tolerance in society and supporting the mobilization of the socio-economic potential of compatriots abroad for the development of our country. It also establishes friendly international relations, strengthens friendship with civil societies in foreign countries, and implements a “public diplomacy” mechanism with 157 national cultural centers, 43 friendship societies located in the republic, as well as with more than 60 brother cities, and nearly 100 societies of compatriots abroad.
Enormous opportunities have been created for the preservation, presentation, and development of national identity, language, traditions, customs, history, and culture of various nationalities. Furthermore, the role of national cultural centers, established by representatives of various nationalities living in our country is of particular importance in strengthening cultural cooperation between the New Uzbekistan and foreign countries.
Specifically, Turkish National Cultural Centers were established in Bukhara in 1991, in Tashkent - in 1992, and in 1997, the Turkish National Cultural Center of Uzbekistan.
Since 1997, the primary focus of the Turkish National Cultural Center of Uzbekistan (chairman Umar Ibrahimov Salmanov) has been the revival of the Turkish language, culture, traditions, and customs. To this end, the Center has established a Council of Elders, a Women’s Council, a Youth Wing, and a department for working with sports clubs and ensembles.
Currently, three folklore ensembles operate under the auspices of the Center: Sevinch, Anadolu, and a women’s folklore group.
In 1999, under the direction of Mikail Suleymanov, an honorary member of the Turkish National Cultural Center of Uzbekistan, the MIKO Comedy Theater was founded. The performances were shown in Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan. These theatrical productions are primarily aimed at strengthening unity, solidarity, and harmony among representatives of different nationalities.
A number of representatives of Turkish nationality have been awarded state awards for their contribution to strengthening interethnic harmony, mutual understanding, and friendship in our country.
The first information about the arrival of Turks in Uzbekistan was found in the diary of the Spanish ambassador González de Clavijo. Written sources mention Turkish musicians at the court of the Temurid Shahrukh. There is information that Turkish merchants and artisans settled in the territory of modern-day Uzbekistan in the late Middle Ages to engage in trade and crafts.
When did the Turks arrive in Uzbekistan? We pondered this question for a long time, examining over 100 sources. The results yielded varied answers. The first representatives of the Turks settled in the territory of modern-day Uzbekistan, in the lands of Akhsi, which corresponds to the territory of today’s Namangan Region, when Turkic peoples migrated from the Yenisei River to the state known today as Turkey. The second group arrived during the reign of Amir Timur, in the 1400s.
In 1992, the number of Turks living in Uzbekistan was 21,000, while today it has exceeded 50,000.
Currently, our citizens of Turkish nationality living in Uzbekistan actively participate in the political, economic, social, and cultural life of the republic, making a worthy contribution to the development and progress of the state.
The visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Turkey ushered in a new era in the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, based on mutual trust and expressing a desire for long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation for the benefit of our peoples.
Official visits by the leaders of the two countries contribute to strengthening political dialogue and demonstrate a fruitful practical partnership. To further develop bilateral cooperation, the parties discussed in detail priority areas for further expansion of their partnership, including in areas such as trade and economics, investment, transport, textiles, energy, agriculture, as well as cultural and humanitarian exchanges.
Furthermore, in accordance with the Action Plan for 2026-2027 signed between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and Turkey, the most effective cooperation aimed at ensuring sustainable development and prosperity based on lasting security has been established.
It is noteworthy that the first part of the book by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, “Modernity and the New Uzbekistan
is entitled “Humanity’s Chosen Path of Sustainable Development”. The fact that it reflects the priority criteria for human development in the 21st century and the noble global goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development confirms our aforementioned ideas.
Overall, the primary and most important factor in maintaining socio-political stability in Uzbekistan is the ability to ensure unity and national harmony among its multi-ethnic population. It should be noted separately that national understanding and national unity, which are strengthening day by day in our society, serve the cohesion processes on an ethnic and cultural basis among representatives of all nationalities living in Uzbekistan.
Saodat Tilovberdievna Davlatova
Head of Department of the Committee on interethnic relations and compatriots abroad of the Republic of Uzbekistan,
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor
Economic Cooperation of Uzbekistan within the SCO at a New Stage of Development
📅 29.08.2026
Ziyoda Rizaeva, Center for Economic Research and Reforms
The global economy is developing amid the restructuring of global supply chains. At the same time, the role of regional formats capable of creating additional opportunities for trade, investment, and industrial cooperation is increasing.
One such format is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which marks its 25th anniversary in 2026. Over the past quarter-century, the organization has significantly expanded its membership, geographical reach, and areas of cooperation, while accumulating considerable experience in multilateral and economic cooperation and developing substantial resource and transport potential.
For Uzbekistan, cooperation within the SCO is important for expanding trade, investment, industrial, and transport ties.
The Growing Importance of the SCO
Over the past quarter-century, the SCO has undergone substantial institutional development. Established in 2001 by six countries, the organization today comprises 10 member states (Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus). India and Pakistan joined the SCO in 2017, Iran became a full member in 2023, and Belarus in 2024. The Organization has 17 partner states, including Azerbaijan, Mongolia, and Afghanistan.
Guided by its fundamental principles, the SCO serves as a reliable guarantor of stability and security in the region, particularly in Central Asia. Amid a rapidly changing international environment and persistent instability, this role of the Organization is becoming increasingly important.
The SCO is neither bloc-based nor confrontational in nature and remains open to cooperation. This clearly demonstrates that its activities are not directed against the interests of other countries or international organizations.
All decisions within the SCO are made by consensus and require the full agreement of all member states. This principle ensures that the interests of every participant are taken into account, guarantees equality among member states, and enhances the Organization’s appeal as a platform for multilateral cooperation.
Today, the SCO member states cover more than 65% of Eurasia’s territory. Their combined population is around 3.4 billion people, or more than 42% of the world’s population. The combined nominal GDP of the SCO countries exceeds $26 trillion, accounting for around one-quarter of the global economy. In purchasing power parity terms, the organization’s member states account for more than one-third of global GDP.
In 2025, the combined economic growth of the SCO countries was around 5%, compared with global growth of 3.4%. The member states differ in terms of economic size, production structure, resource endowment, competitive advantages, and degree of market openness. This diversity creates broad opportunities for specialization, industrial cooperation, and economic complementarity.
The SCO countries possess substantial energy and mineral resources, a developed industrial base, and growing consumer markets. According to calculations based on international energy statistics, the organization’s member states account for around 69% of global coal production and approximately 30% of natural gas production. Their resource endowment and market capacity create favorable conditions for implementing major industrial, energy, and infrastructure projects.
Between 2015 and 2024, intra-SCO trade (exports) increased almost 2.5-fold, from $271 billion to $674 billion. Over the same period, its share in the countries’ combined foreign trade increased from 8.9% to 14.2%.
The expansion of trade ties is being supported by the development of transport routes, digitalization of trade procedures, and the increasingly widespread use of national currencies in mutual settlements.
An important milestone in the SCO’s institutional development was the 2025 Tianjin Summit, where the SCO Development Strategy through 2035 was adopted. The document defined long-term priorities for multilateral cooperation. Of particular importance was the decision to establish the SCO Development Bank, which is expected to expand financing opportunities for regional infrastructure and investment projects.
Uzbekistan and the SCO in the System of Economic Relations
Uzbekistan’s foreign economic relations with the SCO countries have intensified considerably in recent years. According to estimates by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms, between 2017 and 2025, trade turnover increased 3.1-fold, from $12.9 billion to $40.6 billion. Exports grew nearly 1.8-fold, from $5.8 billion to $10.65 billion, while imports increased 4.2-fold, from $7.1 billion to $29.96 billion.
As a result, in 2025 the SCO countries accounted for around half of Uzbekistan’s total foreign trade turnover, including 31.5% of the country’s exports and 63.3% of its imports.
Geographically, the bulk of trade is concentrated in China, Russia, and Kazakhstan. In 2025, Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with China reached $17.2 billion, with Russia $13 billion, and with Kazakhstan $5 billion. Together, these three countries accounted for around 87% of Uzbekistan’s trade with SCO member states.
Trade with India reached $1.3 billion, followed by Kyrgyzstan at $1.2 billion, Belarus at $965 million, Tajikistan at $912 million, Iran at $579 million, and Pakistan at $446 million.
The SCO countries are major markets for Uzbek fruit and vegetables and other food products, textiles, electrical goods, and automotive products.
A significant share of imports from SCO countries consists of machinery and equipment, industrial goods, raw materials, and food products used by Uzbekistan’s domestic market and manufacturing sector.
The existing trade structure demonstrates Uzbekistan’s high level of economic interconnectedness with SCO countries.
Investment and Industrial Cooperation within the SCO
Further development of trade between Uzbekistan and the SCO member states creates a foundation for deeper investment and industrial cooperation. For Uzbekistan, particular interest lies in moving toward joint ventures, localization of technological processes, and the development of industrial cooperation between enterprises across SCO countries.
In 2025, the volume of foreign investment and loans in fixed capital in Uzbekistan amounted to $33.5 billion. Manufacturing accounted for 33.2% of the total, electricity and gas supply for 17.1%, and mining for 11.9%. The structure of investment indicates significant potential for further development of industrial cooperation, joint production, and localization of technological processes.
SCO member states occupy a significant place in Uzbekistan’s investment cooperation. In 2025, investment from the Organization’s member states amounted to $17.5 billion. The largest volumes came from China ($13 billion) and Russia ($2.6 billion). Other partners included Kazakhstan ($870 million), Iran ($265 million), India ($247 million), Kyrgyzstan ($197 million), Tajikistan ($196 million), Belarus ($76.5 million), and Pakistan ($52.5 million).
Facilitating mutual trade, harmonizing standards, developing production and logistics chains, and promoting mutual investment were identified by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the 2025 Tianjin Summit as priority areas of economic cooperation within the SCO. To promote direct business dialogue, the President proposed holding an annual “SCO Invest” Investment Forum.
The initiative received practical follow-up as early as 2026. During Kyrgyzstan’s SCO chairmanship, the SCO Investment and Business Forum was held in Bishkek on June 24–25 with representatives of the organization’s member states. The forum covered investment and trade and economic cooperation, industrial and technological cooperation, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, and new industrialization.
Another area of industrial cooperation involves utilizing the resource potential of SCO countries. Uzbekistan’s initiative to establish an SCO Regional Center for Critical Materials provides for cooperation in modern technologies for the extraction and deep processing of mineral resources. The proposed SCO Energy Consortium is aimed at developing joint energy projects. Uzbekistan has also proposed establishing a network of venture companies and funds to support innovative projects.
For Uzbekistan, these new cooperation formats within the SCO expand opportunities for attracting investment and technology, localizing production, and increasing the output of high-value-added products.
Transport Connectivity and New Routes
Transport cooperation occupies one of the most important places in Uzbekistan’s trade and economic relations with SCO countries. According to estimates by the Center for Transport and Logistics Development Studies, over the past five years the volume of international freight transportation with the organization’s member states increased by 40%, or 9 million tonnes, reaching 33.5 million tonnes in 2025. SCO countries account for around 80% of Uzbekistan’s international freight transportation, with the largest volumes involving Russia, Kazakhstan, China, and Kyrgyzstan. According to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport, freight transportation with SCO countries could reach 47 million tonnes by 2030.
Growing freight flows are increasing the importance of new routes connecting East, Central, and South Asia. The 2025 Tianjin Declaration provides for further cooperation along the North–South and East–West corridors, the establishment and modernization of international transport routes, greater use of the transit potential of SCO member states, and the digitalization of logistics procedures.
One of the most significant projects for Uzbekistan is the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, construction of which began in December 2024. The new route is expected to shorten the distance from East Asia toward the Middle East and Southern Europe by around 900 km, while reducing delivery times by 7–8 days. Potential freight volumes are estimated at 12–15 million tonnes per year (Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan).
Another important route is the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan railway. In July 2025, the parties signed a framework intergovernmental agreement on preparing its feasibility study. Linking the two railway projects would make it possible to create a continuous route from China through Central Asia and Afghanistan to Pakistan and the ports of the Indian Ocean.
Infrastructure projects are complemented by efforts to optimize railway transportation conditions. At Uzbekistan’s initiative, the creation of an SCO Council for the Integration of Railway Networks is being considered, with the aim of reducing physical and administrative barriers and improving the connectivity of member states’ railway systems.
For Uzbekistan, the development of new transport corridors expands access to the markets of Eurasia and South Asia and strengthens the country’s potential as a transit hub between the SCO’s major economic centers.
New Areas of Cooperation
The expansion of economic interaction within the SCO is accompanied by the emergence of new areas for joint work. Scientific and technological cooperation, energy, environmental protection, food security, education, and tourism are already part of the organization’s sectoral cooperation framework, while a number of recent initiatives are aimed at creating practical mechanisms in these areas.
One promising area remains scientific and technological cooperation. At the 2025 Tianjin Summit, Uzbekistan proposed creating an “SCO Network of Innovation and Technology Hubs” to generate new ideas and facilitate technology transfer. Artificial intelligence, big data, robotics, bioengineering, and alternative energy were identified among the priority areas.
Considerable potential is concentrated in energy and the green transition. According to China’s National Energy Administration, by the end of 2024 the total installed renewable energy capacity in SCO countries had reached 2.31 billion kW, increasing 14.5-fold compared with 2001 and accounting for around half of the global total. In 2025, SCO countries adopted a Statement on Cooperation in the Field of Green Industry. Uzbekistan also proposed establishing an SCO Energy Consortium and a Regional Platform on climate adaptation, decarbonization, and the use of artificial intelligence to forecast environmental risks.
Environmental cooperation is particularly important for Central Asia. Since 2013, the Central Asian Research Center for Ecology and Environment has been operating in Tashkent as part of cooperation between China and the countries of the region. More than 80 monitoring stations have been deployed in the Aral Sea region, while joint research covers ecosystem and water-resource conditions, salt and dust storms, and the restoration of saline lands.
Food security is another important area. The SCO has established a mechanism for meetings of agriculture ministers, while cooperation covers agricultural technologies, scientific research, breeding and seed production, resource-efficient technologies, and agricultural trade. For Uzbekistan, expanding this cooperation is important for improving agricultural productivity and gaining access to the large food markets of SCO member states.
Humanitarian cooperation encompasses education, science, and culture. Uzbekistan has proposed creating an online campus within the “SCO University” partner network, holding annual competitions and Olympiads for students and young professionals in innovative fields, and establishing a Great Silk Road Cultural Dialogue.
At the Tianjin Summit, Uzbekistan also proposed exploring the launch of a “Tourism Corridor.” In 2026, the initiative received practical follow-up. At a meeting of the heads of tourism authorities of SCO member states in Bishkek, the parties discussed the development of tourism corridors and joint routes, including attracting visitors from third countries. In April, at a meeting of SCO health ministries, particular attention was also given to Uzbekistan’s proposed concept for a Medical Tourism Alliance and mechanisms for its implementation.
Conclusion
As the SCO marks its 25th anniversary, the organization is entering a new stage of institutional development of economic cooperation. The SCO Development Strategy through 2035 has been adopted, along with the decision to establish the SCO Development Bank; discussions on its financial and governance model are ongoing, and a new strategy for the SCO Interbank Consortium for 2027–2031 is being prepared. At the same time, transport projects are advancing and sectoral cooperation is expanding in energy, industry, technology, agriculture, and tourism.
The next stage will largely depend on the ability of existing and emerging mechanisms to ensure the implementation of multilateral projects. Establishing the SCO’s own project-financing instrument is becoming particularly important. Further progress is also required in the digitalization of trade and customs procedures, settlements in national currencies, integration of transport routes, and convergence of conditions for doing business.
For Uzbekistan, further deepening economic cooperation within the SCO is primarily associated with expanding technological and investment cooperation, industrial partnerships, deeper processing of raw materials, and access to new markets. The wide range of partners within the organization enables the country to diversify its sources of investment, production linkages, and export destinations.
It is the practical implementation of multilateral mechanisms that will determine the next stage of economic cooperation within the SCO. In this context, the anniversary Bishkek Summit, to be held under the motto “25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity,” will become an important milestone in the further institutional development of cooperation. The organization approaches the summit with a number of decisions already adopted and initiatives that moved into the practical development stage in 2026. Their implementation will demonstrate how consistently the SCO can transform agreements into joint economic projects and sustainable mechanisms of cooperation.
The national leader of the Turkmen people congratulated the President of Uzbekistan
📅 24.07.2024The text of the article is in Uzbek language!
Digital Cooperation among the Turkic States Towards a Unified Technological Ecosystem
📅 29.09.2026
FROM A DIGITAL AGENDA TO PRACTICAL COOPERATION
Organization of Turkic States currently counts Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkiye and Uzbekistan among its full members, while Turkmenistan participates in observer status. The organization holds annual summits of heads of state, establishing a mechanism for reviewing results achieved and defining directions for future cooperation.
The informal OTS summit held in Turkistan on May 15th, 2026 likewise underscored the growing importance of digital technologies within this process. At a meeting devoted to “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development”, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan put forward initiatives on building a strategic cooperation network in artificial intelligence, advancing cloud and quantum computing technologies, and creating a unified digital space.
The head of state also proposed developing a “Digital Turkic Corridor Concept” aimed at connecting the region's data centers through high-speed communication channels, and holding a Technology Forum in Tashkent with the participation of OTS member states. These initiatives placed on the agenda the task of elevating digital infrastructure from projects pursued by individual states to the level of regional cooperation.
Seen in this light, the existing bilateral ties within the OTS space form the practical foundation of the digital agenda ahead of the Ankara summit. A distinctive feature of today's cooperation is that it is no longer limited to agreements and meetings alone, but is also taking shape at the level of companies, exports, investment, technological infrastructure and specialists.
IT EXPORTS AND CAPITAL FLOWS: THE ECONOMIC DIMENSION OF COOPERATION
Uzbekistan's digital economy ties with OTS states can also be traced through the activities of IT Park Uzbekistan.
Cooperation with Kazakhstan stands out for its particularly broad scope of indicators. As of the first half of 2026, 79 enterprises with Kazakh capital were operating as residents of IT Park Uzbekistan. Over the six-month period, these companies provided export services worth $3.1 million and created 1,409 jobs. During the same period, the number of companies exporting IT services from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan reached 114, with export volume totaling $8.2 million and employing 2,299 people.
This cooperation is not confined to bilateral export figures alone. Since 2024, mechanisms for bringing Central Asian startups to international markets have begun taking shape within the Central Asian Innovation Hubs partnership. Through ties between Kazakhstan's Astana Hub and Uzbekistan's IT Park Uzbekistan, startups are participating in international acceleration programs, investment events and projects aimed at entering foreign markets.
Digital economy cooperation with Azerbaijan is likewise expanding steadily. According to preliminary data for the first half of 2026, the number of IT Park residents with Azerbaijani capital reached 16. These companies provided export services worth $2.6 million over six months and created 137 jobs. In turn, the number of resident companies exporting services to the Azerbaijani market reached 19, with export volume totaling $1,282,700.
Ties with Kyrgyzstan in IT and digital services are also developing at a notable pace. By the end of the first half of 2026, 28 enterprises with Kyrgyz capital were operating as IT Park residents. These companies provided export services worth $974,000 and created 255 jobs. During the same period, the number of companies exporting IT services from Uzbekistan to the Kyrgyz Republic reached 39, with export volume totaling $3.3 million and employing 1,939 people.
These figures point to a steadily strengthening economic substance within digital cooperation among the Turkic states. IT services exports, engagement with local markets, companies with foreign capital participation and new job creation are emerging as mutually reinforcing processes.
STARTUPS AND VENTURE CAPITAL: NEW MECHANISMS FOR A SHARED TECHNOLOGICAL SPACE
Another important direction of digital cooperation involves linking startup ecosystems and expanding shared opportunities for venture capital.
In 2023, representatives of the technology ecosystems of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan held a dialogue titled “Central Asia's Emerging Digital Market”. The discussion advanced the idea of developing Central Asia not as a collection of separate national markets but as a unified technological space for global investors. In subsequent years, this approach has been reinforced by the emergence of regional acceleration and export mechanisms for startups.
Expanding activity of Kazakh venture funds in Uzbekistan represents one of the practical manifestations of this process. In 2025, the Big Sky Capital fund began operating in Uzbekistan, while White Hill Capital was selected among international venture funds by the IT Park Ventures fund. The parties are working to establish a co-investment structure based on equal participation.
At the informal OTS summit held in Turkistan in May 2026, the President of Uzbekistan invited OTS member states to join a joint venture fund being established by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to finance promising youth startups, innovative developments and AI-based solutions. This initiative reflects an approach focused on linking national startup ecosystems through shared capital, expertise and markets, rather than developing them in isolation from one another.
The first Technology Forum of the Organization of Turkic States was held in Tashkent as part of ICT Week Uzbekistan 2026, at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The proposal to hold a Technology Forum in Tashkent with the participation of OTS member states had been advanced by the head of state at the informal OTS summit in Turkistan in May 2026. The forum brought together representatives of leading technology parks and innovation agencies from Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkiye.
Within the forum, a memorandum was signed between IT Park Uzbekistan, the Azerbaijan Innovation and Digital Development Agency, Astana Hub, the High Technology Park of the Kyrgyz Republic and Bilişim Vadisi. The document is aimed at the systematic development of cooperation among the technological and innovation ecosystems of the Turkic states.
Under the memorandum, the OTS Technology Forum will be held annually on a rotating basis in one of the member states, with the heads of technoparks and innovation organizations to meet regularly to discuss cooperation outcomes and new joint initiatives.
In addition, IT Park Ventures and Bilişim Vadisi signed a cooperation memorandum within the forum aimed at strengthening ties between the startup and investment ecosystems of Uzbekistan and Turkiye. Key areas of this cooperation include the exchange of promising startups and investment opportunities, along with the joint review of potential deals, attracting investors, and developing mechanisms to support technology companies' entry into and expansion within international markets.
DIGITAL GOVERNMENT AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS: THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAYER OF COOPERATION
Digital cooperation with the Turkic states is not confined to IT business alone. E-government, telecommunications, data exchange and state information systems are likewise becoming increasingly significant areas of engagement.
In the field of e-government, cooperation with Azerbaijan has been established between the Digital Government Projects Management Center and the “ASAN” agency. Practical assistance has also been provided to Azerbaijan's “DOST” agency in introducing an online queuing service for socially vulnerable population groups.
Ties with Kazakhstan in cross-border data exchange and digital government services are likewise advancing. Within a pilot project on data exchange in tourism launched in 2025, the legal and technical foundations for cross-border data exchange among Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Korea have been developed. Subsequent stages envisage extending this mechanism to other priority areas and establishing a unified platform for interstate data exchange.
Bilateral mechanisms have likewise taken shape in telecommunications. Traffic exchange through international communication channels has been established with Kazakhstan, while services related to international internet connectivity, channel leasing and international traffic exchange are being carried out with Kyrgyzstan.
In his address at the Turkistan summit, the President of Uzbekistan noted that the “E-Permit” electronic permit system had been fully launched between Uzbekistan and OTS member states, and advanced practical objectives concerning the digitalization of customs and transit procedures, the expansion of data exchange, and improved efficiency of logistics chains.
Digital transformation within the OTS framework is thus emerging not as a collection of separate technological projects, but as an infrastructural layer connecting trade, logistics, customs, government services and telecommunications processes.
TIES WITH TURKIYE AND TURKMENISTAN: OTHER AREAS OF COOPERATION
Within digital cooperation with Turkiye, professional development and workforce training occupy a distinct place. Through TIKA, various professional development programs and short-term training courses are being carried out in Uzbekistan. Proposals exist for further deepening cooperation in digital technologies, state information systems, digital healthcare and cybersecurity.
This approach places particular emphasis on human capital, a factor of central importance to the digital economy. The sustainable development of a technological ecosystem depends not only on infrastructure and investment, but equally on training qualified specialists, exchanging international experience and building new competencies.
Turkmenistan participates in the OTS in observer status. Cooperation with Uzbekistan also exists in the digital economy and telecommunications sectors. As of the end of the first quarter of 2026, three IT Park residents with Turkmen capital were operating. A contract for international telecommunications services also remains in effect between “Uztelecom” and “Turkmentexnokurilishyk” of Turkmenistan.
A PRACTICAL FOUNDATION TAKING SHAPE AHEAD OF THE ANKARA AGENDA
The current picture indicates that digital cooperation among the Turkic states is gradually evolving from a collection of individual projects into a systematic ecosystem. Within this process, ties among IT services exports, foreign capital and startups are strengthening on one hand, while infrastructural areas such as data exchange, e-government, logistics, telecommunications and cybersecurity are advancing on the other.
The initiatives put forward by Uzbekistan at the informal summit in May 2026 have likewise defined the next stage of this process. Proposals concerning a strategic cooperation network in artificial intelligence, the “Digital Turkic Corridor Concept”, holding a Technology Forum in Tashkent, expanding joint venture financing mechanisms, and cooperation in cross-border data exchange and cybersecurity are giving the digital agenda a broader, regional character.
From this standpoint, the existing bilateral experience serves as an important practical foundation for the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States to be held in Ankara. Uzbekistan's digital ties with OTS states today span a wide range, from companies and export geography to startup investment, government services, data exchange and digital infrastructure.
The principal task ahead lies in developing these ties not as separate, isolated directions, but as an interconnected technological and economic space. Such a model could give rise to new markets for IT companies, capital and acceleration opportunities for startups, international experience for specialists, and new mechanisms for digital infrastructure and data exchange among states.
This is precisely what matters most ahead of the Ankara summit: digital cooperation within the OTS framework is no longer about technology alone. It is shaping the digital dimension of processes ranging from trade and investment to human capital, logistics, public administration and regional connectivity. Uzbekistan's bilateral experience accumulated in recent years remains one of the key factors defining the practical substance of this agenda.
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