Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are moving closer to launching joint geological exploration projects targeting precious metals deposits, with a final decision expected by the end of the year.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 59th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank in Samarkand, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Mining Industry and Geology Ural Yusupov said active cooperation has already begun with Azerbaijan’s AzerGold company, The Caspian Post reports via local media.

He noted that both sides are currently reviewing technical documentation, with plans to decide soon on launching joint exploration of gold and silver deposits. Uzbekistan has also offered to expand cooperation to include projects focused on critical minerals extraction.

Exploration efforts are now focused on promising sites in the Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions, while critical materials potential is being assessed in Karakalpakstan and the Jizzakh region.