Astana, 4 September 2024 (TDI): Recent diplomatic activities in Central Asia and the Caspian Basin highlight a significant push towards enhanced regional trade, countering the notion that August is a slow month for business.
In late August, high-level state visits took center stage, with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev traveling to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visiting Tajikistan. Both trips centered on strengthening economic ties.
During his visit to Uzbekistan, President Aliyev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev declared 2025 as the “Year of Economic Cooperation” between their nations.
Mirziyoyev outlined a comprehensive 20-point economic blueprint, which includes establishing textile manufacturing clusters and expanding trans-Caspian connections.
The goal is to maximize regional trade potential. Aliyev echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need to enrich trade relations with concrete initiatives.
This collaboration has also energized a major project involving Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan to develop solar and wind energy for export to Europe.
Tokayev’s Meetings in Tajikistan
Meanwhile, President Tokayev’s meetings in Tajikistan, including with President Emomali Rahmon, resulted in a target to increase annual bilateral trade to $2 billion.
A key agreement from the visit was a memorandum aimed at harmonizing trade rules, inspections, and customs procedures, essential for expanding trade.
In follow-up discussions, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan are considering an agreement for Kazakhstan to import Tajik electricity, which could bolster Kazakhstan’s involvement in the green energy project with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
The regional push for trade expansion also extends beyond these visits. On August 27, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan discussed extending the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project to Turkmenistan, aiming to create a terminal on the Caspian Sea.
Kyrgyz Economy Minister Daniyar Amangeldiyev highlighted the significance of this international cargo transportation project.
Also Read More: Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Trade Surges to $91m
Additionally, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are working on new procedures to simplify cross-border travel, allowing entry with a national ID card instead of a passport.
This initiative aims to ease travel between the two countries and follows similar procedures between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Uzbek presidential aide Abdulaziz Kamilov praised these moves as a testament to the growing friendship and cooperation within Central Asia.
