In recent years, ties between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan have been strengthening, which has positively impacted the development of all areas.

The Project Manager of the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies, Darya Ilina, connects these achievements with the ongoing reforms and notes that cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan in agriculture and trade plays a vital role in ensuring the sustainable development of the two countries, the exchange of experience and technology strengthens economic ties and contributes to increased efficiency work in the agricultural sector.

– According to UN Comtrade, in 2022, the trade turnover in agri-food products between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan amounted to $40.8 million, doubling compared to 2021”, Darya Ilina said. – In general, over the past five years, the turnover of agri-food products between the countries has increased almost 5 times. In 2022, the export of agri-food products from Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan amounted to $35.1 million.

The main agro-food exports of Uzbekistan are tobacco and industrial tobacco substitutes, raisins, beans, peanuts, peeled walnuts, chocolate, and other food products containing cocoa. Agri-food imports from Azerbaijan in 2022 amounted to $5.7 million. Uzbekistan mainly imports hazelnuts, almonds, vegetable fats and oils, chocolate, and products containing cocoa, soft drinks, animal feed, clover seeds, and more.

As part of the First Meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of the Organization of Turkic States in July 2022, the Ministers of Agriculture of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan agreed on an action plan for cooperation in the agricultural sector. It reflected the exchange of experience in agricultural insurance, the digitalization of agriculture, issues on the mechanism of state support for agriculture, and the creation of a joint venture in sericulture.

Uzbekistan is considering opportunities to apply the experience of Azerbaijan in subsidizing the agricultural sector and digitalization of agriculture.

Close cooperation is also being implemented in cultivating seedless hazelnuts, pomegranates, silkworm cocoons, and cotton. In 2022, grapes, beans, peanuts, and seeds of several cotton varieties were sent to Azerbaijan from Uzbekistan. In turn, it is planned to send hazelnut seedlings from Azerbaijan to Uzbekistan.

In January 2023, the first transportation of dried and fresh fruits through the road transport system from Tashkent to Baku airport was completed. The issue of creating a joint cluster for silk production is being considered.

In strengthening cooperation, as Darya Ilina noted, it is expedient for the Uzbek side to work on new ideas and projects and their practical implementation. In particular, these can be proposals for the joint deep processing of pomegranate in Uzbekistan, the establishment of processing of fruits and berries, the creation of joint nut plantations, the involvement of Azerbaijani experts in the digitalization of agriculture in Uzbekistan, the study of the experience of creating electronic cabinets for farmers, the introduction of water-saving technologies, the organization of exchange of students of agricultural universities.

Nasiba Ziyodullayeva, UzA