Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — From 2 to 4 September, a delegation from Uzbekistan, including leaders and leading analysts from ISMI, IPMI, IACMO, MICA, and the Uzbek-German Business Cooperation Bureau, visited Berlin.

During the visit, a series of expert meetings and consultations were held with representatives from the offices of the Federal President and Federal Chancellor, the ministries of foreign affairs, environmental protection, economic cooperation and development, the Eastern Committee of the German Economy, as well as political foundations such as the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The delegation also met with think tanks, including the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, the Centre for East European and International Studies, and the Institute for Global Public Policy, among others.

The meetings involved a detailed exchange of views on the development of comprehensive Uzbek-German practical cooperation, as well as multilateral interactions in the "Central Asia – Germany" format.

Both sides assessed that relations between Uzbekistan and Germany have recently reached a qualitatively new, higher level of mutual understanding and trust. The intensity of high-level contacts and the dynamic advancement of agreements have facilitated a progressive and substantive expansion of the bilateral agenda, which is gradually acquiring a strategic character.

A trustful dialogue has developed at the highest levels of leadership and government. Notably, over the past five years, there have been four bilateral visits by the presidents of the two countries.

The Business Council, chaired by the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, is actively working. Trade between the countries has increased by 36%, with exports from Uzbekistan rising by 62%.

Germany is becoming an important investor in the Uzbek economy. The volume of German investments has reached 5.5 billion dollars, with nearly 4 billion invested in recent years. Specifically, from 2016 to 2024, German funds have been directed towards developing the potential of key sectors of the Uzbek economy, including energy, mining, chemical industry, construction materials production, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and transport. Over 60 projects involving German companies are being implemented in Uzbekistan, with a total value of 5 billion euros.

Currently, more than 220 German companies are operating successfully in Uzbekistan, including KNAUF, Falk Porsche Fiberglass, Falk Porsche Technik GmbH, Papenburg Uzbekistan, SIEMENS Energy, MAN, CLAAS, GP Papenburg, Viessmann, Deutsche Kabel, LEMKEN, and others.

The cooperation also supports the implementation of irreversible reforms in Uzbekistan and contributes to the introduction of advanced practices in various spheres of state and societal development.

Additionally, the experts thoroughly analyzed the process of regional cooperation in Central Asia and the pressing issues facing the countries. German specialists highly praised the efforts by the President of Uzbekistan and other Central Asian leaders to build good-neighborly and friendly relations aimed at ensuring stable and sustainable regional development. This policy has turned Central Asia into an attractive growing market and a center of investment and political-economic activity.

The initiative by Uzbekistan to bring the region closer together has found broad support in Germany’s socio-political circles. Meetings noted that Central Asia demonstrates a responsible and consistent approach amid ambiguous global trends.

Separately, the German side was informed about the preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan, which will be held under a new mixed system aimed at enhancing the role of political parties and the parliament in the country’s socio-political life, as well as in the development and implementation of domestic and foreign policy agendas.

Given the progress achieved to date, special attention was given to developing new ideas, recommendations, and proposals for further joint projects in political-diplomatic, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian areas.

Opportunities in "green" development, renewable energy, transport and logistics, industrial cooperation, technology transfer and innovation support, healthcare and education, and human capital development were reviewed.

As a result of the visit, prospects for expanding scientific cooperation and conducting joint research were outlined. A schedule for important events on current international and regional topics was agreed upon.