Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 26 September 2024, a delegation from Uzbekistan led by Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies (ISMI), participated in the 10th meeting of analytical centers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) titled "The Turkic World – One World."

The expert meeting, organized by the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives under the President of Kyrgyzstan, brought together prominent representatives from leading think tanks in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Türkiye, Hungary, the OTS, and the ADB.

The agenda included discussions on the prospects for multifaceted cooperation within the OTS in political, economic, scientific-innovative, and cultural-humanitarian spheres.

In his welcoming speech at the forum, Eldor Aripov highlighted the positive results achieved in recent years within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States.

According to the expert, over the last four years, the combined GDP of the member states has increased by 20% (to $1.6 trillion), while foreign direct investment has risen by 22%. Simultaneously, the significance of the OTS as a promising land bridge between East and West is growing. Trans-Caspian transport and communication projects ("Middle Corridor") are being implemented, allowing for the diversification of cargo transit from China to Europe and back.

Aripov noted that positive dynamics have also been achieved bilaterally. In particular, Uzbekistan has elevated its relations with all OTS countries: to a strategic level with Turkmenistan and Hungary, comprehensive strategic partnerships with Türkiye and Kyrgyzstan, and alliances with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

Moreover, trade and economic exchanges are actively developing. Over the past seven years, Uzbekistan’s foreign trade with OTS member states has nearly tripled, reaching $10 billion in 2023 (a 4.6% increase).

At the same time, the number of foreign enterprises with capital from Turkic countries operating in Uzbekistan has increased by 50%. "From 2017 to 2022, OTS countries invested more than $4 billion in our country’s economy, which accounts for 8% of the total foreign investments during that period," emphasized the expert.

Eldor Aripov believes that all these indicators demonstrate the increasing importance of the OTS format for ensuring sustainable development in Uzbekistan.

He also called for further expansion of the political and economic dimensions of cooperation. In this regard, he pointed out the necessity for the swift implementation of several strategic initiatives proposed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan.

Specifically, he stressed the importance of coordinating joint efforts on the global stage, guided by unified approaches to several international issues. In this context, the urgent need for adopting the conceptual document "Charter of the Turkic World," which calls for political solidarity within the Organization, was highlighted.

In his speech, Eldor Aripov also emphasized the importance of ensuring sustainable peace in Afghanistan, noting that the stability of OTS countries depends on the situation in that country.

He underscored the need for continued attention to the situation in Afghanistan, stating that it must not be sidelined amid other challenges. "Based on the results of the recent meeting of the foreign policy agencies of our countries, it is encouraging to note that we are very close to developing common approaches regarding the Afghan issue," concluded the ISMI director.

Discussing future prospects for OTS development, Eldor Aripov pointed out several factors that hinder trade and economic cooperation among member states. "An analysis of the last ten years shows that the total foreign trade turnover of the OTS is growing mainly due to imports, which are increasing twice as fast as exports and currently account for over 50% of OTS foreign trade. At the same time, a significant portion of imports comes from third countries," noted the expert.

This trend, according to the ISMI representative, indicates the necessity for developing economic cooperation and increasing internal trade, which currently constitutes only 6% of the total foreign trade turnover.

In this regard, Eldor Aripov emphasized the importance of establishing a Research Center for Trade Cooperation among Turkic States, expressing confidence that this institution will facilitate the implementation of specific measures aimed at eliminating trade barriers, widely introducing new mechanisms for increasing export and import volumes, and developing e-commerce platforms.

Special attention was given to the need for implementing joint economic projects and strengthening the financial mechanisms of the Organization.

In this context, the expert emphasized the timeliness of the establishment of the OTS Investment Fund this year in Istanbul and the urgent need to launch the Organization’s Development Bank, initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan.

Eldor Aripov believes that "these new institutions will further strengthen the financial potential of the Union."

In conclusion, the ISMI director pointed out the demand for expert meetings in deepening partnerships.

He called for continued efforts to enhance the practical output of informational and analytical support for the activities of the highest OTS bodies and to increase the number of joint informational and analytical publications.

It should be noted that the meeting of official foreign policy research centers of OTS member states and observers was established in 2015 in accordance with the provisions of the Nakhchivan Agreement on the establishment of the Turkic Council from 2009. Since 2019, representatives of Uzbekistan’s expert community have been participating in this format. The 8th meeting of OTS analytical centers was organized by ISMI in 2022 in Tashkent.