In Tashkent, Uzbekistan, a working meeting took place between Yuri Karaev, Chairman of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee, and Khursidbek Samiyev, Deputy Hokim of the Samarkand Region of Uzbekistan. The main topic of the negotiations was the development of interregional interaction in the fields of agriculture, industry, and furniture production.
Yuri Karaev noted the significant economic and demographic potential of Uzbekistan. He emphasized that the country's annual population growth of more than one million people creates a constant demand for food, industrial products, and modern goods.
The head of the Grodno region stated that Uzbekistan is a center of Central Asia and possesses rich resources. He added that the rapid population growth requires utilizing this dynamic development.
Furniture industry was named as one of the most promising areas for joint work. Karaev pointed out that Belarus has the necessary production capacities and raw material base, while Uzbekistan represents a fast-growing market with high purchasing power.
Opportunities for interaction in the agro-industrial complex were also discussed. Yuri Karaev highlighted that the Grodno region has extensive agricultural resources and a high level of land use efficiency. He stressed that the existing lands are well maintained, and significant reserves remain for further development.
The parties also addressed the issue of labor migration. The chairman of the regional executive committee announced that the Belarusian side is ready to accept a limited number of Uzbek citizens to work in agricultural enterprises. He specified that the process is state-controlled, and the goal is not to overload the region with migrants.
The meeting was held as part of a contact program aimed at expanding economic ties between the regions of Belarus and Uzbekistan, and it contributed to the development of interregional cooperation.
An official delegation from the Andijan region, led by Hokim Shukhratbek Abdurakhmanov during an official visit to Belarus, held negotiations with the Chairman of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee, Yuri Karaev.
As a result of the meeting, the parties identified four key areas for developing trade and economic ties, as well as for implementing joint investment projects.
One of the main areas of cooperation will be the livestock sector. The parties are considering the possibility of acquiring unused livestock complexes in the Grodno region to create meat processing facilities intended to supply the Uzbek market.
A project for growing high-yield potato varieties in the Grodno region was also discussed, which will cover an area of about 3000 hectares.
Furthermore, an agreement was reached on the supply of quality timber from Belarus, which will serve as necessary raw material for furniture production enterprises in Uzbekistan.
The development of cooperation in the furniture industry will proceed in stages. In the initial phase, producers from the Grodno region will be provided with trade space in a large furniture center located in the Altynkulsky district of the Andijan region. In the future, the parties plan to establish joint furniture production facilities directly in Uzbekistan.
At the conclusion of the negotiations, representatives of the Andijan and Grodno regions confirmed their readiness for further expansion of trade, economic, and investment cooperation, agreeing to ensure the implementation of the approved projects in the shortest possible time.
The Prime Minister of Belarus, Alexander Turchin, held a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Jamshid Khodjayev, ahead of the official visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Belarus.
During the negotiations, the parties focused on key areas for the further development of Belarusian-Uzbek interaction. Special attention was paid to industrial cooperation, interaction in the agro-industrial complex, and the launch of new joint investment projects.
Alexander Turchin emphasized that the upcoming visit of the head of Uzbekistan would be one of the most important events in bilateral relations. He noted that the III Forum of Regions of Belarus and Uzbekistan would take place during this visit, serving as a platform for signing new commercial agreements, interregional documents, and establishing partnerships between the regions of the two countries.
Additionally, the official start of Uzbekistan Culture Days in Belarus is planned. The Prime Minister of Belarus stated his readiness for the beginning of the visit, noting that 'the entire package of documents is ready for signing' and that they have set very serious goals. He expressed confidence that the visit of the President of Uzbekistan would give a new impetus to bilateral cooperation.
Alexander Turchin also announced that the goal of increasing mutual trade turnover to 2 billion US dollars by 2030 will be realized. Furthermore, it is expected that by the end of the current year, the volume of mutual trade will exceed 1 billion US dollars.
Jamshid Khodjayev thanked the Belarusian side for preparing for the visit of the head of Uzbekistan and noted the scale of the delegation from Uzbekistan. According to him, over 200 business representatives, three regional hokims, and deputies of hokims from all 14 regions of Uzbekistan arrived in Belarus. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that a significant part of the preparatory work was aimed at developing interregional cooperation.
Representatives from the Uzbek regions visited enterprises and production facilities in various regions of Belarus, where promising areas for interaction were identified. According to Khodjayev, the parties are also beginning to implement new joint initiatives in the agro-industrial complex, including projects in animal husbandry and crop production.
The issue of attracting labor resources was also discussed during the negotiations. As the Deputy Prime Minister noted, citizens of Uzbekistan are ready to participate in the implementation of joint projects and work in enterprises in Belarus if there is a corresponding need.
During the prestigious Dubrovnik Forum, an official meeting took place between the Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Croatia, Oibek Shahavdinov, and the Mayor of Dubrovnik, Mato Franković.
In the course of the negotiations, the parties comprehensively discussed promising directions for developing interregional interaction. The main focus of the participants was on the idea of creating direct links between twin cities and a partnership between two historical centers of world tourism—Samarkand and Dubrovnik.
The diplomat and the city head emphasized that both municipalities possess vast cultural and historical heritage included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, which serves as a solid foundation for long-term humanitarian rapprochement. Activating horizontal ties between the regions is intended to open up new opportunities for diversifying contacts and become an additional stimulus for strengthening interstate dialogue between Tashkent and Zagreb.
Following the meeting, firm agreements were reached on systematic practical interaction between Samarkand and Dubrovnik. The cooperation program for the near future includes organizing and holding joint cultural and humanitarian festivals and exhibitions, launching mutual large-scale presentations of the unique tourist potential of both cities to attract tourists, as well as assistance in conducting regular business visits.
The implementation of these measures will significantly expand direct contacts between business circles of Uzbekistan and Croatia, which will contribute to stimulating investment and trade activity.
