Uzbekistan and Turkey to hold the first meeting of the Business Council

On November 9 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the first National Dialogue on Business and Human Rights, titled 'Paths to Prospects,' took place. The event was organized as part of a joint project on business and human rights, implemented by the National Center for Human Rights of Uzbekistan together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The dialogue was held in a hybrid format and gathered representatives from state bodies, chambers of the Oliy Majlis, trade unions and employer associations, business representatives, research institutes, as well as non-governmental and international organizations.

At the opening, Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Center for Human Rights of Uzbekistan and an academician, spoke, as did Akiko Fuji, UNDP representative in Uzbekistan. Additionally, UN Coordinator in Uzbekistan, Sabina Mahl, addressed the participants via video message.

As stated by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev: 'The richer our entrepreneurs become, the more prosperous our people and stronger our state will be. An entrepreneur's success is the success of our entire nation.' Academician Akmal Saidov emphasized that ensuring sustainable and rapid development of the national economy is crucial for protecting citizens' interests.

The head of the National Center recalled Uzbekistan's negotiations to join the World Trade Organization, as well as the submission of an application to begin the process of joining the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises in 2026. He also presented the draft National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights prepared by the National Center.

The first session focused on global and regional trends in business and human rights, OECD standards for responsible business conduct, and their impact on trade, investment, and supply chains.

In the second session, the results of the National Baseline Assessment commissioned by UNDP were presented. According to this assessment, Uzbekistan possesses the necessary elements in this area, but they are not yet consolidated into a single comprehensive national system. Risks related to labor rights, the environment, and local communities persist in the agriculture, construction, and manufacturing sectors.

The afternoon discussions focused on the state's obligation to protect people from human rights violations related to business activities and companies' responsibility to respect human rights through due diligence.

The third session brought together representatives from the National Center for Human Rights, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment.

After the dialogue concluded, participants discussed priority areas for further cooperation and the steps needed to prepare the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. The National Center and UNDP will take on the task of summarizing the discussion results.

Furthermore, a one-day training seminar on human rights due diligence was held on November 10 for representatives of state bodies and civil society. A three-day training course for business representatives is scheduled for November 11 to 13.

A business forum will take place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on November 12, gathering representatives of the business community from Hainan Province, China.

According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, representatives from twelve Chinese companies and organizations will participate in the event. The forum will be held at the JW Marriott Hotel Tashkent.

Forum participants plan to discuss potential areas of cooperation. Topics under discussion include agriculture and food processing, solar energy and green technologies, industrial equipment manufacturing, robotics, medicine, and digital technologies.

The agenda will also cover issues of interaction in the fields of packaging materials and textiles, logistics, investments, and international trade. Uzbek entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to conduct bilateral (B2B) negotiations with Chinese companies, discussing investment attraction, joint venture creation, and the launch of production projects.

The event organizers expect the meeting to help strengthen long-term business ties between enterprises of the two countries.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Jamshid Khodjayev, held a meeting with delegations from about one hundred Turkish companies operating in the country.

These negotiations were part of the preparatory work for the upcoming Uzbekistan-Turkey High Council meeting on business support, which is scheduled to take place in Tashkent in November.

According to Khodjayev, approximately 2,400 companies with Turkish investments are currently operating in Uzbekistan. Representatives from various economic sectors attended the meeting, such as energy, construction and infrastructure, banking, textile industry, mining, pharmaceuticals, food production, and information technology.

Khodjayev emphasized that direct dialogue with the business community helps identify the problems faced by companies and shape a practical agenda for further cooperation. Furthermore, the experience of Turkish investors already working in Uzbekistan helps improve the business environment.

Following discussions with heads of ministries and state agencies, the parties reached an agreement on further steps to address the issues raised by business representatives.