Astana hosted the first meeting of the Uzbekistan – Kazakhstan Expert Council.

The event, organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS) jointly with the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was attended by heads and representatives of ministries and agencies, as well as expert and analytical circles of the two countries.

Addressing the event, ISRS Director Eldor Aripov emphasized that the meeting had special symbolism. It was held on the eve of the state visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Kazakhstan, as well as the next meeting of the heads of state of Central Asia.

As the expert noted, thanks to the will of the two leaders, a high level of political trust has developed between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. This trust guarantees the consistent strengthening of bilateral relations, regardless of any political situation.

The ISRS representative noted that trade and economic cooperation are essential in bilateral relations.

– Kazakhstan is one of our three largest partners, – said Mr. Aripov. – Over the past 7 years, trade turnover between our countries has more than doubled, and its volume by the end of 2023 amounted to $4.4 billion. The high pace of investment cooperation is noticeable. Since 2017, the volume of investments from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan has increased 23 times – from 10 to 230 million dollars in 2023. The number of enterprises with the participation of Kazakhstani capital is growing in our country. Compared to 2016, their number has increased almost fivefold, exceeding the mark of a thousand enterprises.

According to the ISRS Director, to further strengthen the existing positive dynamics of cooperation, it is necessary to maintain competitive advantages and rely on the addition of common potentials with access to new economic opportunities. Such a mutually beneficial strategy will be most advantageous in our region, where our countries are interconnected.

Thus, Eldor Aripov called for attention to the following issues.

First of all, it is necessary to strengthen political trust based on the principles enshrined in the treaty on allied relations and continue and expand political dialogue at all levels. Mutual consultations and unity of opinion are very important before major international events involving the two countries. The Expert Council can make a great contribution in this regard.

Second, it is relevant to implement the idea of ​​forming a shared space for industrial and technological development based on the mutual complementarity of the two countries’ economies. The basis for this should be not only the combination of competitive advantages, the creation of new jobs, and our technological potential but also the substitution of expensive imports and joint entry into the markets of third countries. We have all the conditions for this – many up-and-coming projects in animal husbandry, cotton cultivation, processing, greenhouse construction, automobile production, and household appliances. All this will ensure joint economic development. At the same time, it is also essential to actively involve small and medium businesses in implementing joint projects and establishing public-private partnerships. 

Third, creating a barrier-free environment for moving goods, services, labor, and capital is essential. The benefits of this are apparent. Consumer prices will decrease, and supply chain distances will be reduced. This will protect us from turbulence in world markets.

– We have proposals for aligning the main development plans of regions in the two countries’ border areas. I am convinced that if we identify ways to complement each other’s capabilities, new economic growth points will open up, – the ISRS Director emphasized.

G. Khonnazarov, UzA