Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are considering the possibility of holding a regular meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission and of the Joint Economic Council this year, local TV channel Altyn Asyr reports.
The issue was discussed at a meeting of the Turkmen government, where Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov reported on the results of his recent working visit to Uzbekistan.
During the meetings of the Turkmen delegation with the Uzbek leadership, "the emphasis was placed on intensifying work on the construction of a shopping centre and the commissioning of joint trading houses in the border trade zones. There was also an exchange of views on partnership issues in the field of water management".
Experts told Daryo that in the period from 2017 to 2023, the volume of mutual trade between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan has increased more than fivefold, reaching $1.094bn last year.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has switched to direct purchases of Turkmen energy, natural gas and electricity. From January to February, the volume of trade transactions between the two countries amounted to $184.6mn, which is 1.9% more than in the previous year.
Ashgabat and Tashkent have agreed to develop cross-border trade in the area, which will include the adjacent Dashoguz region of Turkmenistan and the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan.
The two countries are increasing their cooperation in the field of international freight transport. Turkmenistan is becoming an important transport hub in the region thanks to the launch of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway in 2014, the longest section of which - 700 km - passes through Turkmenistan.
In 2022, the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkey railway corridor was launched with a total length of more than 4,500 km. This corridor has become the shortest and most convenient way for Uzbekistan to export and import with Turkey.
The two countries are exploring ways to create optimal conditions for cargo transport through the Caspian Sea port in the city of Turkmenbashi. This route can be used as part of the transnational route China - Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan - Turkmenistan - Azerbaijan - Georgia - Turkey - Europe.
The implementation of the Ashgabat Agreement, signed in 2011 with the aim of creating the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Oman international transport corridor, is also on the agenda.
Eziz Boyarov
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