Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov affirmed that the Russian Federation remains a key external economic and one of the largest investment partners of Uzbekistan.

He highlighted that the strategic partnership and alliance between the two countries have been bolstered by the forward-looking policies of their leaders. Over the past seven years, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Russia has increased by 2.5 times, surpassing US$10 billion in 2023. In the first seven months of 2024 alone, trade grew by an additional 30%.

A key goal is to achieve the target set by the heads of state to increase bilateral trade to US $30 billion in the coming years. Over 3,000 joint ventures are operating successfully in Uzbekistan, with a project portfolio exceeding $60 billion.

Major projects are being implemented in sectors such as mining, metallurgy, energy, chemicals, agriculture, electrical engineering, and textiles. Cooperation is also expanding in digitalization and artificial intelligence development.

A joint investment platform has been established to facilitate mutually beneficial cultural and industrial projects. Transport and logistics cooperation is also a priority, with nearly 300 direct flights between the two countries per week and the resumption of railway passenger services.

In the cultural and humanitarian spheres, Uzbekistan hosts 14 branches of leading Russian universities, with plans to open new branches of Bauman Moscow State Technical University and the All-Russian Academy of Foreign Trade. In 2023, more than 700,000 Russian tourists visited Uzbekistan, setting a new record.

Aripov emphasized Uzbekistan’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Russia across a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues.