Turkmenistan - Uzbekistan: Expanding Good-Neighbourly Relations

On May 20, 2026, the 19th meeting of the Joint Turkmen-Uzbek Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation was held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan.

The forum was attended by members of the Commission from the Turkmen side, as well as the Uzbek delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev, who arrived in our country on a visit.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the current state of bilateral relations, the implementation of previously reached agreements, and considered prospects for further comprehensive cooperation. Thanks to the consistent efforts of the leaders of the two states, bilateral relations have reached a new stage of development and are being enriched with concrete practical content.

The participants discussed priority areas of bilateral cooperation in the trade and economic sphere, particularly in the fields of energy, transport, logistics, agriculture, the pharmaceutical industry and tourism. The steady growth of trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan was noted, and new effective mechanisms are constantly being developed to maintain this positive trend. Interregional forums, the Turkmen-Uzbek Business Council, and trade and industrial exhibitions serve as effective platforms for developing business ties between the private sectors of the two countries.

In November last year, during the state visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the neighbouring country, the Turkmen-Uzbek Cross-Border Trade Centre was officially opened, marking a new stage in the development of relations in this area. The participants noted that creating favourable conditions for trade, economic and business cooperation contributes to bringing interregional cooperation to a qualitatively new level. In this regard, the parties confirmed their readiness to expand interaction in order to further increase mutual trade turnover.

Special emphasis was placed on the development of transport infrastructure connecting the economies of the two countries, located at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road, which is being revived in a new format. In this context, the increase in freight transportation volumes and the simplification of customs and logistics procedures were highlighted. The prospects for cooperation in areas such as industrial cooperation, the chemical industry, automotive manufacturing, and electrical engineering were also discussed with great interest. In accordance with modern requirements, key importance is attached to introducing advanced technologies and innovations in the scientific and technical sphere and strengthening cooperation in this sector.

The meeting analysed ways to raise relations in various sectors of the economy and investment, advanced technologies, and opportunities to expand trade turnover to a new level. Specific plans for further cooperation were also identified. Following the results of the 19th meeting of the Joint Turkmen-Uzbek Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation, the relevant Protocol was signed.

The participants expressed confidence that, thanks to the efforts of the leaders of the two states, the Turkmen-Uzbek strategic partnership will gain new substance and continue to develop successfully. The parties also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening mutually beneficial relations and ensuring the practical implementation of the agreements reached.

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On the same day, the fifth meeting of the Turkmen-Uzbek Business Council was held, during which the parties discussed prospects for further expanding trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, including in the fields of energy, transport and logistics, agriculture, the pharmaceutical industry, and tourism. The issues of strengthening cooperation between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were also discussed.