Uzbekistan Sees WTO Membership as Key Step to Boost Trade and Economic Connectivity

Uzbekistan views joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a strategic move to expand access for its businesses to international markets and strengthen economic ties, including with Azerbaijan.

The announcement was made by Timur Khusanov, Director of the Department for Analysis, Support, and Coordination of State Policy on Small and Medium Business Development at the Uzbek Ministry of Economy and Finance, during the presentation of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) “Asia SME Monitor 2025” report in Baku, Azerbaijan, The Caspian Post informs via local media.

Khusanov highlighted that the steady GDP growth of around 6 per cent per year is the main driver behind the rapid development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Uzbekistan, providing a solid foundation for entrepreneurship.

“This is strong infrastructure supporting the stability of our economy. However, connectivity is crucial for Uzbekistan - developing roadmaps, railways, and highways, including projects in cooperation with Azerbaijan. This is a key priority, and our main goal at the Ministry of Economy is to build high-quality infrastructure for businesses,” Khusanov emphasized.

Uzbekistan has already concluded WTO accession negotiations with countries such as the USA, China, and the UK. In May 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev announced that Uzbekistan aims to join the WTO ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference scheduled in Cameroon in March 2026.