German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will embark on his first official visit to Central Asia from September 15 to 17, 2024. The Chancellor will visit Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, accompanied by a high-ranking business delegation, aiming to strengthen economic and political ties with the region.
During the visit, Scholz is said to engage in bilateral talks with the presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, focusing on deepening cooperation in trade, investment, and foreign policy matters.
His visit will culminate with his participation in the C5+1 summit in Kazakhstan on September 17, a forum that brings together the Central Asian nations of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Germany.
The summit follows the first C5+1 meeting, which took place in Berlin last year and saw the establishment of a strategic regional partnership between Germany and the Central Asian states. Scholz’s attendance at this year’s summit is expected to further advance this partnership and reinforce Germany's role as a key partner in Central Asia.
In the first half of 2024, Germany’s trade volume with Uzbekistan amounted to $506.3mn, accounting for 1.6% of Uzbekistan’s total foreign trade. While Uzbek exports to Germany grew by 3.6% compared to 2023, German imports to Uzbekistan witnessed a significant decline of 47.5%, reflecting possible changes in market dynamics and import policies.
In 2022, Germany’s exports to Uzbekistan totaled $664mn, predominantly consisting of planes, helicopters, and spacecraft worth $500mn. On the other hand, Uzbekistan’s exports to Germany amounted to $24.4mn, mainly comprising gold and non-retail pure cotton yarn. Over a five-year period, German exports to Uzbekistan increased at an annual rate of 13.3%, whereas Uzbekistan’s exports to Germany saw an annual decline of 33%.
The C5+1 summit is expected to highlight key areas for collaboration, including energy, infrastructure, and technology, with Scholz’s business delegation playing a vital role in exploring new opportunities for German investment in the region.
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