Tashkent hosted the 16th Meeting of Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade-Economic, Scientific-Technical and Cultural-Humanitarian Cooperation.

The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan S. Umurzakov and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan E. Orazgeldiyev.

The agenda of the meeting was based on a wide range of issues of cooperation in investment, trade-economic, industrial, energy, agricultural, water management, scientific-technical, transport-transit and cultural-humanitarian spheres.

The commitment of the governments of the two countries to strengthening constructive, long-term and mutually beneficial relations, as well as the special attention paid to the development of economic partnership between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan were noted at the meeting.

The parties agreed on the need for the active development of industrial cooperation and the formation of continuous value chains, taking into account the comparative advantages of the economies of the two countries. An agreement was reached on the creation of production facilities in the agro-industrial complex, automotive, textile, leather and footwear industries, building materials and household appliances.

Further joint actions were outlined to promote mutual trade. The parties expressed their readiness to implement practical measures to ensure stable supplies of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan products to the markets of the two countries and to bring the trade turnover to $1 billion in the near future. A joint working group at the level of deputy ministers of foreign trade departments of the two countries will regularly work out these proposals. The approval of the draft Agreement on the creation and regulation of the activities of Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan border trade zone will be completed.

The main attention was paid to improving the transport connectivity between the two countries. The parties agreed to develop and take joint measures for further development of transport corridors, providing for the gradual resumption of flights, the provision of mutual tariff preferences for 2022, the prospects for using the infrastructure of Turkmenbashi seaport and other initiatives.

Following the meeting, several important agreements were reached on further practical cooperation in the oil and gas sector, agriculture and water management, energy, chemical and automotive industries, ecology, science, education, sports and tourism.

UzA