Uzbekistan and Afghanistan Agree to Expand Energy Cooperation

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.

Participants and Goals of the Forum

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.

Dynamics of Bilateral Trade

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.

Investment and Industrial Partnership

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.

Priority Areas of Cooperation

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.

Final Agreements

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.

A meeting took place in Kabul between the Prime Minister of Afghanistan, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Jamshid Khodjayev, who headed the Uzbek delegation. The governor of the Fergana region, Khayrullo Bozorov, also participated in the negotiations.

Goals of the Visit and Cooperation

The parties discussed the further development of trade and economic interaction, as well as the implementation of previously reached agreements in the field of trade and investment. Jamshid Khodjayev emphasized that the goal of the large Uzbek delegation, which included representatives of state bodies, legislators, entrepreneurs, and investors, is to strengthen political and economic ties between the two countries.

According to him, Afghanistan holds a significant place in Uzbekistan's foreign policy. The delegation's visit was organized at the instruction of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev with the aim of beginning the practical implementation of agreements in the sectors of trade and investment and assessing the results of their execution.

Trade Turnover and Visa Regime

Khodjayev reported that last year the volume of Afghanistan's exports to Uzbekistan reached 150 million US dollars. Since the beginning of the current year, this amount has been 111 million US dollars, and further growth is expected by the end of the year. Furthermore, the deputy prime minister noted that Uzbekistan issued 5000 visas to Afghan citizens, which he links to the development of friendly and economic relations.

Position of the Afghan Side

Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund welcomed the Uzbek delegation, calling its visit an important step for further strengthening bilateral relations. He stated that the arrival of such a representative delegation and the development of economic cooperation demonstrate Uzbekistan's confidence in Afghanistan's future. The Prime Minister of Afghanistan also expressed interest in deepening ties with Uzbekistan and confirmed his readiness to fulfill the reached agreements.

Uzbekistan and Italy have reached an agreement to expand cooperation in the field of agriculture, accelerate the implementation of joint investment projects, strengthen scientific cooperation, and introduce modern technologies.

Ministers' Talks

The agreements were concluded during the meeting between Uzbekistan's Minister of Agriculture, Ibrohim Abdurakhmonov, and Italy's Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lolobrigida. The meeting took place during the 30th session of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome.

Priorities of Bilateral Partnership

The ministers discussed areas for expanding bilateral interaction, including the introduction of advanced technologies, strengthening scientific cooperation, and accelerating the launch of joint investment initiatives. Abdurakhmonov noted that Uzbekistan continues reforms aimed at modernizing the agricultural sector, increasing production efficiency, and digitizing the industry. He emphasized that utilizing advanced Italian experience and modern technologies is one of the priorities of this bilateral cooperation.

Digitalization and Scientific Exchanges

The parties also agreed to study the possibility of introducing the AntiFraud digital system into Uzbekistan, which is used in Italy in the insurance and payment sectors. This technology is intended to increase the transparency of financial operations, reduce corruption risks, and improve managerial efficiency. Furthermore, attention was paid to scientific cooperation: the parties agreed to deepen interaction between the Italian Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) and the Academy of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, which includes joint research projects and the exchange of scientific and academic personnel.

Investments and Future Prospects

The ministers also considered accelerating joint projects involving the Italian company Bonifiche Ferraresi, as well as the possible adaptation in Uzbekistan of the Italian mechanisms of Contratti di Filiera and Contratti di Distretto. These mechanisms are used to develop production chains and agro-industrial clusters. Lolobrigida noted that the trilateral cooperation model involving Uzbekistan, Italy, and Azerbaijan has already demonstrated practical results and holds great prospects for further development.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening strategic partnership in agriculture, expanding the transfer of innovative technologies, increasing scientific exchanges, and accelerating the implementation of joint investment projects.