Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan Ink $352 Million in Agreements to Enhance Cooperation
The recent Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Interregional Cooperation Forum proved to be a fruitful event, as the two countries signed 76 agreements valued at over $352 million. The forum, which included a business event, aimed to strengthen the trade, economic, scientific, and cultural ties between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
According to Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister’s Office, these agreements are expected to lead to new breakthrough projects that will greatly contribute to the sustainable economic development of Central Asia as a whole. Kazakh officials are particularly focused on increasing exports to Uzbekistan by more than $550 million across 40 product categories, including petrochemical, metallurgical, automotive, food, and pharmaceutical goods.
The importance of enhancing transport and logistics links between the two countries was also highlighted during the forum. Currently, over half of Uzbekistan’s trade passes through Kazakhstan, and the establishment of 18 passenger routes across different transport modes further enhances opportunities for strengthening bilateral ties.
A major focus of the discussions was the implementation of 74 joint projects worth $3.4 billion, expected to create 14,600 new jobs. Kazakhstan will host 65 enterprises, generating 13,600 jobs, while Uzbekistan will accommodate the remaining projects. So far, 9 joint projects have been successfully completed in Kazakhstan and 3 in Uzbekistan, resulting in the creation of 4,800 jobs.
Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov emphasized the close cooperation between neighboring regions of both countries, noting the ties between Karakalpakstan and Kazakhstan’s Mangistau region, as well as those between Tashkent and Turkestan. While significant progress has been made, Aripov highlighted the untapped potential for further cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade and industrial collaboration.
