OMM Redaksiyası
Uzbekistan has put forward several initiatives to deepen economic ties with Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan. The proposals include shared artificial intelligence infrastructure, a regional alliance on critical minerals and a trade strategy through 2035.
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the initiatives at the eighth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, held in Avaza, Turkmenistan. He called for stronger cooperation in trade, industry, transport, energy and technology to support regional economic growth through joint projects.
Trade strategy proposed through 2035
Mirziyoyev proposed a comprehensive regional trade and economic cooperation program through 2035, aimed at reducing trade barriers, strengthening industrial ties and promoting joint investment.
He described the strategy’s guiding principle as “six economies, one product.” The approach envisages establishing integrated industrial and technology supply chains involving six countries.
The Uzbek President also proposed holding a Central Asia–Azerbaijan business forum in Khiva in 2027 and setting up a new platform to provide financial and technical support for cross-border investment projects.
Transport, energy and technology initiatives
Mirziyoyev called for better coordination of major railway and highway projects and the integration of the regional transport network. He also proposed accelerating work to establish a regional infrastructure development council.
In the energy sector, Uzbekistan proposed developing a joint strategy to harness the region’s low-carbon energy potential. The proposal includes coordinating electricity generation and storage, as well as cross-border transmission networks.
Uzbekistan also called for stronger cooperation on water resource management and climate change, including digital monitoring, upgrades to irrigation networks and the use of water-saving technologies.
Technology proposals include establishing shared artificial intelligence computing infrastructure based on the six countries’ national data centers. The network would enable participants to pool computing resources, improve efficiency and accelerate the development of AI and other digital projects.
Mirziyoyev also called for launching a Regional Alliance on Critical Minerals, an initiative Uzbekistan first proposed at the Central Asia–South Korea summit. He proposed creating a joint digital map showing the region’s critical mineral resources.
A pilot program to reduce air pollution is envisaged under the international consortium “Clean Air of Central Asia.” The program could cover the modernization of industrial zones, agricultural clusters and transport hubs.
Uzbekistan will assume the chairmanship of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea in 2027. Mirziyoyev said Tashkent plans to propose new environmental projects, attract funding and continue dialogue with Afghanistan on water use.
The meeting also saw a proposal to establish a Regional Atlas of In-Demand Occupations and Skills to prepare workers for changing labor market needs. The initiative aims to combine labor market forecasts from the six countries to identify skills shortages and new job opportunities, and to align training at universities and technical colleges with future needs.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Mirziyoyev also held talks with Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The sides signed an agreement to establish a Supreme Council for Strategic Partnership.
The leaders discussed significantly increasing bilateral trade and launching joint projects in industry, energy, transport, agriculture and water management. The Shavat–Dashoguz border trade zone has also played a role in developing trade ties.
The new council will provide a framework for strengthening political dialogue and practical cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
