Uzbekistan Advances New Industrial Cooperation Format with Central Asia and Russia
2026-04-18 11:40:00 / News
On April 20, Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade Laziz Kudratov attended the inaugural meeting of the Ministers of Industry from Central Asian countries and the Russian Federation in Tashkent. This new format, established at Uzbekistan's initiative, is designed to serve as a primary mechanism for project implementation.
The industrial sector's share of Uzbekistan's GDP has reached 27%, with production volumes doubling recently. In 2025, trade turnover with regional partners exceeded $21 billion, showing a further 26% increase in the first quarter of 2026.
Minister Kudratov emphasized the strategic necessity of transitioning from traditional trade models toward deep industrial cooperation.
Key proposals included the development of a unified industrial cooperation and localization program, alongside the launch of the "Young Industrial Leaders 2030" initiative, which aims to train 10,000 highly qualified specialists.
An expert group is currently being formed to drive these joint initiatives forward.
The meeting concluded with the formal signing of a joint Communiqué.