Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Issues of enhancing trade and economic cooperation were discussed at a meeting of the joint working group of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and Uzbekistan.

The fourth meeting of the joint working group on cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan took place on 13 March at the EEC headquarters. The meeting was co-chaired by Eldar Alisherov, Minister for Integration and Macroeconomics of the EEC, and Khurram Teshabaev, Deputy Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Eldar Alisherov emphasized the strategic nature of trade and economic cooperation between the countries of the EAEU and Uzbekistan, highlighting that Uzbekistan ranks first among the Union's trade partners in the CIS. Almost half of the trade turnover between the EAEU and the CIS countries is accounted for by Uzbekistan, indicating the complementarity of the two economies.

In turn, Khurram Teshabaev emphasized that cooperation with the EAEU is developing in the format of an effective business dialogue, within which hundreds of major projects are being implemented in industrial cooperation and infrastructure. Uzbekistan is actively involved in intergovernmental and interdepartmental meetings, economic forums, and consultations organized under the EAEU's auspices.

The relevant areas of partnership were further developed in the joint action plan signed in October 2024, outlining the cooperation between the EEC and the Government of Uzbekistan for 2024-2026.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the digitalization of the transport sector and the improvement of the efficiency of logistics routes, potential mechanisms for the exchange of information about goods and vehicles moving through the customs borders of the EAEU and Uzbekistan, as well as cooperation in the fields of competition and consumer protection.

The significance of the "Eurasian Agroexpress" project was also emphasized for optimizing the supply of agricultural products and food to Uzbekistan, as well as the development of new logistics routes.

EEC representatives expressed their readiness to work on mutual recognition of medicinal product identification tools, the participation of Uzbek companies in joint industrial and agro-industrial projects and the formation of a unified customs transit system between the EAEU and Uzbekistan (consultations are scheduled for March 2025).

The parties supported the initiative of the Business Council of the EAEU and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan to hold a joint business dialogue in April 2025.

The next, fifth meeting of the working group will be held in 2026 in Uzbekistan.