Uzbekistan is set to strengthen economic and industrial cooperation with Sweden, including investment in the textile sector, expansion of labor migration agreements, and collaboration in high-tech agriculture, food exports, and bioprotein projects, as per to Uzbek Ambassador to Sweden Rakhmatulla Nurimbetov, as it was announced during a videoconference with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The ambassador highlighted that following a visit by Swedish Migration Minister Johan Forssell to Uzbekistan last year, Sweden expressed readiness to facilitate labor migration. An agreement on migration between the two countries is expected to be signed within the next three months.
In the field of social protection, planned cooperation will focus on inclusive education, reintegration initiatives, and donor-supported humanitarian projects in Afghanistan. High technology and innovation will be applied to organic farming, including training and certification programs for Uzbek farmers to access the Swedish market.
Food exports were also addressed, with Nurimbetov noting Sweden’s annual demand for food products reaches $15bn. He emphasized that even with shipping costs of approximately $8,000 per container to the Baltic states, followed by an additional $1,500–$2,000 for delivery to Sweden, such exports remain economically viable due to the country’s high purchasing power. The ambassador added that developing a stable transport corridor and ensuring product compliance will be key to expanding Uzbek food exports.
Investment in the textile sector is a primary focus of the partnership with Sweden. The H&M Group has expressed interest in opening a hub and establishing sourcing operations in Uzbekistan to attract investment and expand local production capacity.
Additional areas of cooperation include livestock farming, particularly projects related to bioprotein production. These initiatives are intended to leverage Swedish expertise in agricultural technology and innovation to support sustainable development in Uzbekistan.
