President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar took part in a joint business forum in Ljubljana, marking a step forward in bilateral trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.
Held during President Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Slovenia, the forum brought together over 100 business leaders and representatives from leading industrial and commercial enterprises of both nations. Slovenian companies present included pharmaceutical giant KRKA, construction innovator Duol, as well as firms such as Emo Frite, Panvita, Medex, and Tajfun Planina.
In his keynote address, President Mirziyoyev emphasized that high-level talks held earlier in the day opened a “new page” in Uzbek-Slovenian relations, particularly in economic and investment collaboration.
He stressed the urgency of capitalizing on current opportunities amid global economic uncertainty to strengthen trade ties and diversify national economies.
A key target set during the forum is to raise bilateral trade volume to €500mn in the coming years. This will be pursued through expanded trade in textiles, fruits and vegetables, mineral fertilizers, copper, pharmaceuticals, and high-tech equipment.
The Uzbek president also proposed launching an industrial cooperation program in sectors where both economies can complement one another. Priority areas include pharmaceutical manufacturing, electrical equipment production, food processing, green energy infrastructure, and the construction and modernization of energy facilities.
Strengthening transport connectivity was another major focus, with an emphasis on leveraging the Slovenian port of Koper and establishing direct flights between the two countries. President Mirziyoyev also highlighted Uzbekistan’s visa-free regime for Slovenian citizens as a boost to business and tourism exchanges.
The Uzbek leader highlighted the creation of a dedicated industrial park in Uzbekistan designed specifically for European businesses, inviting Slovenian companies to become its first anchor residents and take advantage of the unique opportunities it offers for investment and collaboration.
The forum concluded with the exchange of several bilateral agreements on trade, investment, and economic cooperation, stressing the strong interest of the Slovenian business community in engaging with Uzbekistan’s growing market.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening economic ties and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships across a broad spectrum of industries.
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