Uzbekistan has proposed Georgia to consider participating in the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan (CKU) railway project, signaling a potential expansion of the Middle Corridor’s reach and connectivity.
The proposal was made by Uzbekistan’s Minister of Transport, Ilkhom Makhkamov, during a meeting with Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mariam Kvrivishvili.
The officials discussed broader cooperation in the transport and logistics sectors, including the development of international multimodal corridors and the use of Georgian Black Sea ports. Makhkamov highlighted the strategic opportunity to integrate the future CKU railway into the Middle Corridor—a key route connecting China to Europe via Central Asia and the South Caucasus.
Talks also covered deepening collaboration in road and rail transportation, and boosting connectivity between tourist cities in both countries through increased direct flights.
Kvrivishvili also held talks with Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade, Laziz Kudratov. The two sides discussed steps to expand investment cooperation, interregional trade, and logistics, and agreed to establish a working group to implement joint initiatives. Particular attention was given to collaboration in the textile, pharmaceutical, and agricultural sectors.
Since 2020, bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Georgia has grown 3.5 times, underscoring the growing economic ties.
The discussions come as Uzbekistan intensifies its efforts to diversify trade routes. In early July, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev discussed boosting the Trans-Caspian transport route, which saw Uzbek cargo volumes increase by 25% to over 1mn tons.
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