Uzbekistan’s EAEU Entry May Boost Central Asian Integration

Russia’s Trade Representative in Uzbekistan Konstantin Zlygostev has said that Uzbekistan’s potential accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) could unlock new opportunities for the country and become a powerful driver of economic integration across Central Asia.

Speaking to journalists, Zlygostev noted that EAEU membership would open up fundamentally new prospects for Tashkent and give fresh momentum to regional economic cooperation, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

In particular, Uzbek goods would be able to move freely through Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan without the additional procedures that currently create bureaucratic barriers.

Zlygostev said that joining the union would grant Uzbekistan access to a common market of nearly 180 million people. “This represents a huge niche for Uzbek products aimed at the premium segment,” he said, pointing to textiles, agricultural goods, and products from the chemical and food industries as key beneficiaries. He also highlighted the expected reduction of tariffs, harmonization of standards, and increased investment in joint projects.

The trade representative added that full participation by Uzbekistan would also benefit Russia, strengthening its position in supplies of fuel, metals, timber, industrial equipment, and IT solutions. “What already works will receive an additional boost. Logistics will become much simpler, and this is an extremely important factor,” Zlygostev emphasized.

Earlier, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that over four years of cooperation with the EAEU, Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover with member states has nearly doubled. He stressed that the union’s countries are strategic and natural partners for Uzbekistan, and that deepening cooperation with them is especially important amid ongoing changes in the global economy.

Currently, the EAEU includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, while Uzbekistan has held observer status in the bloc since 2020.