Thirty-one years have passed since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Croatia. Over this period, ties between the two countries have steadily developed across the political, economic, interparliamentary, migration, tourism, cultural, and humanitarian spheres.

Within the framework of political dialogue, the first official visit of the Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić-Radman, to Tashkent took place in December 2024. During the visit, a cooperation protocol between the two countries’ foreign ministries was signed, and issues related to increasing trade turnover, strengthening tourism ties, and deepening diplomatic dialogue were discussed.

In the economic sphere, the partnership is gradually expanding. On July 23, 2025, during online talks between the Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, and the Minister of Economy of Croatia, Ante Šušnjar, the parties discussed strengthening trade ties, expanding investment cooperation, and approving a joint activities program for 2026.

Interparliamentary cooperation is also developing. Members of the relevant groups, during online meetings, reach agreements on legislative activity, mutual support within international organizations, and the expansion of partnerships in agriculture, investment, and information technologies. The sides have expressed interest in implementing joint initiatives in innovation, transport, and logistics.

Particular attention is being paid to cooperation on labor migration. A delegation from Uzbekistan held meetings with Croatian officials on issues related to employment, language training programs, and the protection of citizens’ rights. The outcome of the dialogue was an agreement to develop an intergovernmental agreement on migration and mobility.

In October last year, the tourism forum “Uzbekistan – The Pearl of the Silk Road” was held in Zagreb. The country’s historical potential and investment opportunities were presented to Croatian stakeholders.

Active ties have been established in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. Representatives of the embassy held talks with leading cultural institutions of Croatia. Agreements were reached to host the Days of Cinema of Uzbekistan and Croatia in 2026 and to promote joint animation projects.

The broad range of ongoing projects demonstrates the potential to deepen cooperation based on mutual economic interests and human capital development goals.

Dilshod Hakimov, UzA