Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia have reached an agreement to expand practical interaction in the field of pharmaceuticals. This cooperation will cover investments, joint projects, technology transfer, and the production of modern medicinal products.
Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia have reached an agreement to expand practical interaction in the field of pharmaceuticals. This cooperation will cover investments, joint projects, technology transfer, and the production of modern medicinal products.
The memorandum was signed during the visit of the Saudi delegation to Uzbekistan. The delegation was headed by Minister of Health Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al-Jaladjel. During this visit, a Uzbek-Saudi business dialogue took place, as well as a round table with the participation of representatives from state bodies, medical institutions, and the private sector.
The Director of the Agency for the Development of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Abdullo Azizov, presented the Saudi side with information about the current reforms in Uzbekistan. These reforms are aimed at modernizing the pharmaceutical industry, developing high value-added production, attracting foreign investment, and increasing the country's export potential.
Participants were also introduced to the pharmaceutical innovation group BioPharma City. This project envisions the creation of infrastructure for scientific research, innovative production, biotechnological development, and international cooperation.
The agreement allows for cooperation not only in the field of pharmaceuticals but also in other areas of medicine. The parties plan to develop investment partnerships, implement joint initiatives, carry out technology transfer, and establish the production of modern medications. Bilateral meetings and negotiations between representatives of Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia continue within the framework of the official visit of the Saudi delegation.
The First Minister of Uzbekistan, Abdullah Aripov, and the First Minister of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektenov, held the twenty-third meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Bilateral Cooperation in Aktau. At this meeting, they reviewed the progress of previously reached high-level agreements and determined priority areas for further interaction, according to the press service of the Government of Kazakhstan.
According to Bektenov, cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan continues to actively develop thanks to the political dialogue between the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He noted that this process serves as an example for the entire Central Asian region. The results of the state visit of the President of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan last November confirmed the high level of trust between the two states.
Aripov emphasized that the meetings of the leaders of the two countries in Bukhara, Astana, and Turkestan set concrete tasks for the governments to deepen cooperation. He expressed readiness to ensure the implementation of these tasks, noting that the negotiations will contribute to the development of trade, investment, industry, transport, interregional connections, as well as cultural and humanitarian relations.
According to data from the Kazakh side, bilateral trade reached a volume of 4.8 billion US dollars in 2025. Furthermore, from January to May 2026, trade turnover increased by 37% compared to the previous year, amounting to 2.3 billion US dollars. Participants focused on implementing the Roadmap for Investment and Trade, which is valued at 7.8 billion US dollars. Projects under this roadmap are designed to diversify trade, expand product supplies, and attract new investments.
Industrial cooperation became another important topic of discussion. Currently, both countries are working on 80 joint projects worth more than 1.8 billion US dollars. Of these, 15 projects worth 227 million US dollars have been completed, creating about 5,000 jobs. Six other projects worth 102 million US dollars are in the implementation stage, and 59 initiatives totaling 1.5 billion US dollars are under consideration.
The First Ministers also analyzed the state of transport routes and logistics corridors. Railway freight transport between the countries increased by 16% in 2025, reaching 32.3 million tons. To increase transport volumes, the parties developed a joint action plan aimed at increasing the capacity of railway corridors from 35 to 60 million tons. Kazakhstan proposed modernizing cross-border railway infrastructure and opening additional border crossing points.
The meeting also highlighted positive trends in the use of Kazakhstan's maritime infrastructure and the development of road transport. Participants reported that the introduction of the E-Permit electronic foreign permit exchange system has allowed the number of permits to increase more than tenfold over the past four years, while reducing border crossing time from nine hours to 30 minutes.
The sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing cooperation in water resource management, taking into account the interests of both countries. They also stressed the importance of expanding cultural and humanitarian ties, including joint efforts to include historical and cultural sites of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the transnational UNESCO nomination 'Great Silk Road: Fergana-Syr Darya Corridor.'
Following the expanded format of the meeting, the sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in industry, transport, transit, and other sectors of the economy. Aripov and Bektenov signed the protocol of the twenty-third meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Bilateral Cooperation.
Uzbekistan and Moscow reached an agreement to expand cooperation in the field of healthcare following meetings of the Uzbek delegation with Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.
During the meeting, the Russian side presented unified standards for managing Moscow's healthcare system. These standards include the digitalization of medical services and the implementation of a continuous patient referral system.
At City Polyclinic No. 220, which operates under the 'My Polyclinic' standard, the Uzbek delegation familiarized itself with the organization of primary medical and sanitary care, patient flow management, digital registration, and preventive care.
At the S.P. Botkin Scientific and Clinical Multidisciplinary Center, the delegation was shown approaches to managing multidisciplinary hospitals, organizing diagnostic and surgical services, patient referral systems, and the introduction of modern medical technologies.
Visiting a children's clinical hospital, participants observed a model of specialized pediatric care that combines diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation, and subsequent medical supervision. To study the palliative system, the delegation also visited the 'House with a Beacon' children's hospice and the Moscow Multidisciplinary Palliative Care Center, where mechanisms for supporting patients and families were presented.
Specialists at the Scientific and Practical Clinical Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine Technologies demonstrated the application of artificial intelligence and remote interaction capabilities between radiologists. The delegation also visited the Interdisciplinary Training Center for Innovative Surgical Technologies, where they studied the system of practical surgeon training using simulation equipment and anatomical materials.
At the Moscow Laboratory Research Center, the delegation was shown robotic laboratory diagnostics, a three-tier laboratory network model, and a digital system for managing research data and test results. At the conclusion of the negotiations, the parties agreed to prepare a roadmap for further cooperation, including the implementation of joint pilot projects involving relevant experts.
The Minister of Health of Uzbekistan, Eldor Adilov, met with the Iranian Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Mohammadali Iskandari, to discuss prospects for deepening bilateral interaction in the field of healthcare.
During the meeting, both sides noted that cooperation between Uzbekistan and Iran has been steadily growing in recent years due to agreements reached by the leadership of the two countries. This progress was achieved through closer interaction between the ministries of health, specialized medical centers, and higher educational institutions.
Particular attention was paid to strengthening ties between leading medical institutions. Opportunities were discussed for launching joint programs in areas such as cardiothoracic surgery, transplantation, oncology, as well as providing high-tech medical care.
Participants also reviewed the potential for joint investment projects related to the production of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. At the conclusion of the negotiations, both sides expressed confidence that healthcare cooperation between Uzbekistan and Iran will reach a new level in the near future.
