Bilateral Trade Between Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan Soars Beyond $1 Billion

Trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan has recently surged several-fold, exceeding the $1 billion mark.

Following high-level discussions between National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, both countries agreed to increase trade volume to $2 billion, with ambitions to reach $5 billion in the near future, The Caspian Post reports per Turkmen media.

Energy remains a cornerstone of the bilateral partnership, highlighted by the successful development of the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline, a key infrastructure project enhancing regional energy connectivity.

Transport cooperation also plays a pivotal role, with both nations working towards integrating transport networks across Central Asia, China, Europe, and the Middle and Near East. Business communities regularly engage in joint forums and exhibitions, strengthening ties between regions such as Lebap and Bukhara, and Dashoguz and Khorezm. Plans are underway to open the “Dashoguz-Shabat” border crossing and establish a cross-border trade zone to further facilitate commerce.

At the UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries held in Avaza, a trilateral meeting was held between Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Ali Asadov. The leaders discussed industrial cooperation prospects, particularly in the fuel and energy sectors, and the development of East-West and North-South transport and logistics corridors leveraging the strategic Turkmenbashi International Seaport.

On August 5, Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with President Mirziyoyev, underscoring that relations with Uzbekistan remain a top foreign policy priority, founded on enduring friendship and political will.

The partnership between the two countries spans agriculture, electricity generation, oil and gas, the chemical industry, and other sectors. In 2022, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan adopted a Program of Trade-Economic Cooperation and Industrial Partnership for 2022-2025 to strengthen and expand their collaboration.