Uzbekistan Eyes Advanced Oil Refining Partnership with Azerbaijan

Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bakhrom Ashrafkhanov has said that Uzbekistan expressed a strong interest in developing advanced oil refining projects in cooperation with Azerbaijan.

Ashrafkhanov made these remarks during the Azerbaijan International Investment Forum (AIIF 2025), The Caspian Post reports via local media.

“We are already involving SOCAR [State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic] in projects in Uzbekistan, but our goal is to expand into deep oil product refining,” he stated. “Currently, we are working on initiatives across nearly 20 sectors of the economy, including oil and gas.”

The ambassador emphasized the growing scope of bilateral cooperation, noting that joint projects are being developed with Azerbaijani companies across multiple industries - from chemical production and mechanical engineering to construction materials and energy. Some of these efforts include logistical and commercial activities in Karabakh.

“There are significant opportunities right now. Our businesses are highly engaged,” Ashrafkhanov said. “We plan to establish warehouse infrastructure, as well as a year-round sales and exhibition center for construction materials.”

He added that work is already underway in several specific areas, including:

A trading house for textiles

Dedicated trade and warehouse facilities for construction materials

A joint agricultural products distribution center