Russian president’s second state visit after re-election was to Uzbekistan. Scheduled for two days, the visit expanded into the third day. Parties agreed to expand trade, construct a small nuclear plant and two pumped hydropower storages, protect labor migrants, and covered other issues.
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev welcomed a delegation from Kazakhstan led by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. Discussions centered on initiatives to remove trade barriers and enhance bilateral trade volume.
China replaced Russia as Uzbekistan’s primary trading partner in 2023. Trade with both countries increased, with growing imports to Uzbekistan and decreasing exports. At the same time, trade with neighboring Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan declined.
Uzbekistan’s 2023 trade turnover increased by 23.8% to $62.6 billion, yielding a record $13.7 billion trade deficit. Record gold exports reached a third of total volume, while those of textile and manufactured goods declined. Imports surged for food, oil and gas.
The EU decided to extend the GSP+ system of trade preferences for another four years. Uzbekistan, as a participant of the basic and then extended program, reached a four times increase in exports to the EU of €450 million by the end of 2022. MIIT expects the number to go up to $1 billion in 2023.
The presidents of Uzbekistan and Italy held negotiations. Heads of states introduced proposals on developing a trade facilitation program, establishing a Forum of Regions of the two countries and holding its first meeting in Samarkand next year, as well as organizing a joint educational forum.
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