Photo: Press service of the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan
The first meeting of the Council of Ministers of Trade and Investment of the Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan took place in Tashkent on 13 November. One of the main items on the agenda was the development of a unified Made in Central Asia brand, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade (MIIT) of Uzbekistan reported.
The ministers reviewed a set of measures aimed at strengthening regional trade and industrial integration. Particular emphasis was placed on creating practical tools to increase intra-regional trade to $20 billion, develop joint production platforms under the Made in Central Asia label, and attract major investors and international financial institutions to shared industrial and infrastructure projects.
Participants noted that trade between Uzbekistan and the Central Asian states has shown steady growth. In 2017, turnover stood at $3.2 billion; by 2024 it had more than doubled, reaching $6.9 billion.
Trade with Kazakhstan is approaching $4 billion; with Kyrgyzstan it has reached nearly $700 million; with Tajikistan it now exceeds $570 million; and with Turkmenistan it has more than doubled over the past five years, reaching $1.15 billion. Trade with Azerbaijan has also risen significantly — up 13% since the start of the year.
According to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economy, the country’s trade with Central Asia grew by 58% in the first nine months of 2025, surpassing $1 billion.
The ministers also underscored the need to further streamline customs and border procedures, synchronize transport and logistics infrastructure, and develop industrial hubs capable of linking regional value chains. Other priorities included industrial cooperation, joint development of resource and technological capacities, and increasing exports of higher value-added goods.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a joint communiqué outlining key agreements on deepening economic cooperation, advancing industrial co-production, and strengthening mechanisms for investment collaboration.
Participants included Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan; Arman Shakkaliev, Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan; Zavki Zavkizoda, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan; Nazar Agahanov, Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan; Elnur Aliyev, First Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan; and Duyshonkul Chotonov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan.
