Representatives of state bodies and business circles from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan discussed opportunities for partnership in the field of pharmaceuticals, industrial cooperation, and joint investment projects. The event took place as part of the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan Business Forum held in Bishkek.
A panel session dedicated to healthcare and pharmaceuticals was organized within this forum. During the session, a representative of the Agency for the Development of Medical and Pharmaceutical Industry of Uzbekistan presented information on the investment potential of the country's pharmaceutical sector.
Forum participants received information about current investment projects being implemented in Uzbekistan, as well as about state support measures, the investment climate, and opportunities provided by free economic zones. Furthermore, reforms aimed at developing the pharmaceutical industry were presented.
During the discussion, the parties also exchanged views on expanding cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in the field of drug production, technology transfer, and the implementation of joint initiatives.
A business forum dedicated to industrial cooperation, investment, and trade between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan was held in Bishkek on July 28. Following the event, both sides signed a cooperation plan for the period 2026–2028, as well as several agreements in key economic sectors.
The forum attracted participants such as Erlist Akunbekov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Food Processing of Kyrgyzstan; Ravshanbek Sabirov, Head of the National Investment Agency under the President of Kyrgyzstan; Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan; and Bakyt Sydykov, Minister of Economy and Trade of Kyrgyzstan. Representatives of state institutions, development institutes, and companies from both countries also took part.
The event gathered 115 representatives of Uzbek businesses and 95 Kyrgyz entrepreneurs. The main topics of discussion included expanding trade ties, implementing investment projects, and creating new supply chains.
Over the last decade, trade turnover between the two states has increased by more than seven times, reaching a volume of 1.2 billion US dollars. From January to June 2026, bilateral trade grew by 1.5 times compared to the previous year, amounting to 625 million US dollars. Forum participants noted that maintaining the current trend will allow the countries to achieve the target of 2 billion dollars in annual trade by 2027.
Special attention was paid to investment cooperation and industrial partnerships. Currently, about 450 joint-capital enterprises operate in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, implementing joint projects in automotive manufacturing, textile industry, healthcare, agriculture, and other fields.
The key instrument supporting joint projects remains the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan Development Fund, which currently supports 28 initiatives in the fields of transport and logistics, light industry, construction material production, energy, and financial services.
The sides identified agro-industrial cooperation, the textile industry, pharmaceuticals, and electrical engineering as priority areas. In the agricultural sector, plans include developing seed production, growing potatoes and rice, animal husbandry, and intensive horticulture.
In the textile industry, the countries intend to strengthen interaction in wool and leather processing, as well as finished product manufacturing. Regarding pharmaceuticals, discussions focused on combining production capacities to expand the range of medicines and enter external markets. In electrical engineering, the emphasis was placed on component localization, creating joint ventures, and promoting goods to third-country markets.
Within the business agenda, entrepreneurs held targeted negotiations on projects in agriculture, food processing, textiles, construction materials, furniture manufacturing, electrical engineering, pharmaceuticals, energy, mining, logistics, tourism, finance, and trade. Both nations also agreed to support direct interregional contacts and hold the first joint Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan regional forum in Uzbekistan before the end of 2026.
The event concluded with the signing of the Action Plan for Developing Cooperation between the Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan and the National Investment Agency under the President of Kyrgyzstan for the period 2026–2028. Furthermore, the sides exchanged agreements regarding the promotion of electrical engineering products, seed production, agricultural science, energy, healthcare, hydraulic engineering, and the development of industrial zones.
At the second meeting of the Expert Council of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, held in the capital of Kyrgyzstan and titled 'Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan: Strategic Partnership and Prospects for Its Further Development,' a significant improvement in bilateral relations was noted.
The delegation from Uzbekistan participated in the event, which included leaders and specialists from leading analytical centers, relevant state agencies, and representatives of the business community. Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute of Strategic and Interregional Studies (ISRS), addressed the participants, emphasizing the qualitative changes in ties between the two states.
According to Aripov, thanks to the strong political will of the leaders of both countries, all key and complex issues on the bilateral agenda have been successfully resolved. He called this a historic achievement, stating that for the first time in many decades, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan can focus their efforts not on overcoming the past, but on jointly shaping the future.
Economic interaction was also highlighted. Aripov noted that bilateral trade, which barely exceeded $100 million ten years ago, has now approached $1.2 billion, showing a growth of almost 40% in the last year alone. The parties aim to move from simply increasing trade volumes to deeper industrial cooperation and the creation of joint production capacities.
Regarding major infrastructure projects, Aripov emphasized the importance of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway line and the Kambarat-1 Hydroelectric Power Plant project. He stressed that these projects go beyond the bilateral agenda, as they are effectively shaping the new economic geography of Eurasia.
On the issue of transboundary water resources, Aripov reported that recent experience demonstrates a gradual decrease in the relevance of traditional division of interests between upstream and downstream countries. Instead, mutual consideration of interests and shared responsibility for common natural resources is observed.
Concluding his speech, Aripov noted the unprecedented growth in contacts between the citizens of the two countries. Over the last decade, the number of Kyrgyz citizens who visited Uzbekistan has increased more than sevenfold, reaching 3.3 million people last year, which was the highest figure among all incoming international tourist flows to the country.
The Deputy Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, Akram Aliyev, met with the Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Uzbekistan, Marion Edel, on July 17, 2026, to discuss deepening bilateral economic partnership.
During the meeting, the parties reviewed the current state and future prospects of interaction in the fields of trade, investment, and technology.
It was noted that bilateral trade turnover increased by 13.2% in 2025, reaching a volume of 1.4 billion US dollars. The volume of German investments implemented in Uzbekistan amounted to 6.4 billion US dollars.
Participants also discussed preparations for the next round of intergovernmental negotiations between Uzbekistan and Germany on cooperation for development. At the end of the meeting, both sides confirmed their readiness to continue practical work aimed at further strengthening bilateral cooperation in agreed areas.
