Uzbekistan and Qatar: Exploring opportunities for collaboration
It is well known that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev recently traveled to Doha to offer condolences on the passing of former Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. This visit highlighted the strong political trust shared between the two nations.
In recent years, the relationship between Uzbekistan and Qatar has significantly advanced. Their collaboration steadily grows across sectors like investment, energy, transport, tourism, and education.
The UzA correspondent spoke with Fotima Nazarova, a doctoral candidate in the International Relations Department at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, regarding the potential partnership between the two nations.
– What was the significance of the President’s visit to Qatar for relations between the two countries?
– In international practice, such visits are an important diplomatic tool that demonstrates trust, mutual respect, and strategic partnership among states.
This event can be considered a logical continuation of the foreign policy strategy aimed at deepening cooperation with the countries of the Persian Gulf.
– What is Qatar’s role in the international arena today, and how important is Qatar to Uzbekistan?
– Qatar is considered one of the most active diplomatic centers in the Middle East. The country occupies a key position in the region’s political process and has extensive experience in international diplomacy.
International negotiations on Afghanistan, as well as on resolving the crisis in the Gaza Strip and reducing tensions in the region, were held in Doha. In this context, developing a close political dialogue between Uzbekistan and Qatar is important for both bilateral relations and regional security and stability.
– What role do relations with the countries of the Persian Gulf play in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy?
– Currently, developing cooperation with these countries is a priority. The political dialogue with the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and the Sultanate of Oman is being strengthened.
Qatar occupies a special place among these states, with significant investment potential, a high status in the global energy market, and wide economic opportunities.
Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Qatar were established in 1997. Initially, cooperation between the two countries progressed slowly because of geographic remoteness and limited economic ties.
After 2016, Uzbekistan intensified its foreign policy, leading to a significant development of relations with the Gulf states, including Qatar.
– What are the priority areas of cooperation?
– Today, relations between the two countries are developing in three main directions.
The first is to strengthen political trust and maintain regular dialogue at the highest level. The second is the shared desire to expand investment and economic cooperation. The third is the formation of a long-term strategic partnership through transport, logistics, energy, education, tourism, and cultural and humanitarian ties.
– Which areas are considered the most promising for economic cooperation?
– Economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Qatar is mutually beneficial. Uzbekistan has a large consumer market and is a key transport hub in Central Asia. Qatar, in turn, has significant financial resources and advanced logistics capabilities.
In the future, promising areas for strategic partnership may include green energy, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, food security, transport corridors, and Islamic finance.
– What are the possibilities for partnership in the energy sector?
– Qatar is a global leader in liquefied natural gas production and export. Uzbekistan has identified improving the energy system and developing renewable energy sources as priorities. From this perspective, joint projects in the gas chemical industry, the use of renewable energy sources, and technologies for capacity conservation and the modernization of electric networks are considered promising.
– What opportunities will the development of the transportation and logistics sector create?
– Uzbekistan, a key transport hub in Central Asia, is actively diversifying international transport corridors. Qatar has become a key logistics center in the Middle East. Leveraging these transport opportunities will expand Uzbekistan’s export potential, providing access to the markets of the Persian Gulf, Africa, and South Asia.
– Which areas are important from the point of view of political cooperation in the future?
– In the future, it is necessary to systematize relations between the two countries. To this end, it is important to establish a top-level council for strategic cooperation, develop a mechanism for political consultations, continue dialogue between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and expand inter-parliamentary cooperation.
In general, relations between Uzbekistan and Qatar are developing based on mutual trust, pragmatism, and shared interests.
Interviewed by Dilshod Hakimov, UzA
