The Presidents of Uzbekistan and Finland, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Alexander Stubb, held high-level talks at the Kuksaroy residence in Tashkent, focusing on expanding multifaceted cooperation across key sectors.
During the meeting, both leaders reviewed prospects for deepening the Uzbek-Finnish partnership, particularly in political dialogue, trade, investment, and humanitarian development. The discussions highlighted the steady growth of economic and business ties, as well as the success of the Nordic University in Uzbekistan and joint educational initiatives already underway.
Following the Uzbek-Finnish business forum held earlier in the day, the two sides announced a portfolio of prospective projects worth over €1bn, marking a milestone in bilateral relations.
The presidents agreed to boost trade turnover and explore the creation of a joint Trade Finance Fund to facilitate mutual supplies. Finland also expressed support for establishing certification laboratories in Uzbekistan to help local agricultural and textile products enter the European Union market.
Both sides prioritized expanding cooperation in geology, critical materials, energy, agriculture, digitalization, artificial intelligence, environmental protection, and tourism. It was agreed that the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission will take place in 2026, alongside the establishment of a Business Council to strengthen private-sector collaboration.
Plans were also made to host the first Forum of Rectors and Innovations next year, reinforcing cooperation in education, healthcare, and labor mobility.
The two leaders exchanged views on regional and international developments before signing a Joint Declaration on further strengthening relations between Uzbekistan and Finland.
A package of bilateral agreements was also signed in the presence of both presidents, covering areas such as:
- Trade and economic development;
- Mineral extraction and geological exploration;
- Digital transformation, innovation, and digital connectivity;
- Social protection and education;
- Water resources management;
- Climate change and environmental protection.
