Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade has been actively working to enhance the investment climate, eliminate barriers, and establish the most favorable conditions for the growth of foreign trade.

In this context, we are pleased to announce another significant achievement: the successful bilateral implementation of the necessary procedures for the entry into force of the Protocol on Exemptions from the Free Trade Regime to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of Turkmenistan. This agreement outlines the primary directions for long-term trade and economic cooperation and was signed on July 16, 2024, in Tashkent.

Due to this, a free trade regime between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan has been established as of February 25, 2025.

For reference, this protocol was approved by Decree No. PP-29 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, dated January 27, 2025.

In 2024, trade turnover between the two countries totaled $1.14 billion, an increase of 5.5% compared to the previous year.

As a result of the implementation of the new regime, customs duties on goods produced within the territories of both countries have been eliminated, with the exception of certain product categories. Additionally, existing restrictions on mutual trade have been removed, and trade procedures have been streamlined.

For instance, customs duties have been eliminated on various goods imported into Turkmenistan, including local cement products (100% duty), textiles (50%), furniture (50%), glassware (50%), water heaters (15%), plastic and polypropylene products (10%), sausages and meat products ($2 per kilogram), and cotton oil ($1 per kilogram).

The implementation of a duty-free trade regime will establish a foundation for enhancing mutual trade turnover between the two countries by promoting investment cooperation and fostering industrial collaboration.

The Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade, in collaboration with the relevant ministries and departments, has initiated a mechanism to ensure the effective utilization of the free trade regime between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan for exporting local products to the Turkmen market.