Uzbekistan Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company

Uzbekistan Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company Following a meeting between the President of Uzbekistan and a delegation of leading UAE enterprises led by Minister of Investment, Muhammad Hassan al-Suwaidi, an agreement on a strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) was signed. On December 2nd, President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a delegation of leading UAE companies led by the Minister of Investment and Chief Executive Officer of the ADQ holding, Muhammad Hassan al-Suwaidi. The meeting was held as part of the business program in Dubai, where the UN climate conference (COP28) took place a day earlier. The delegation also included the heads of leading Emirati companies, TAQA, Jasim Hussein Thabet, and Masdar Muhammad Jamil al-Ramahi. The parties discussed issues of supporting and promoting joint projects in trade, economic and investment cooperation. After the meeting, President Mirziyoyev presented the Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, Muhammad Jamil al-Ramahi, with a state award of Uzbekistan - the Order of Dustlik for his personal contribution to the development of Uzbek-Emirati multifaceted relations. Masdar is building several solar photovoltaic power plants in Uzbekistan. In 2023, the company began the construction of three photovoltaic power plants - Nur Jizzakh for 220 MW in the Jizzakh region, Nur Samarkand for 220 MW in the Samarkand region, and Nur Sherabad for 457 MW in the Surkhandarya region. For these projects, it attracted loans of almost $400 million.

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to Bring Mutual Trade to $10 Billion

On November 9th, Alikhan Smailov, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, made an official visit to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, for the 16th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization. Prior to the event, he met with the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. During their meeting, Smailov extended warm greetings from the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and highlighted the strong strategic partnership between the two nations, based on trust and mutual understanding3. Smailov pointed out that "Uzbekistan is one of the largest trade partners of Kazakhstan. Our countries account for about 70% of all trade in Central Asia. At the end of last year, trade turnover increased by 30%, and for the first time reached the milestone of $5 billion. We are actively working to bring mutual trade to $10 billion”. Mirziyoyev reciprocated the sentiment, noting that the strategic agreements between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were being systematically realized across various sectors, including trade, transportation, and water management5. He added, “All issues we have are moving forward; I think there is not a single unresolved issue. In terms of trade, the projects we have agreed on with the President of Kazakhstan will help us reach new frontiers”. In line with these discussions, Arman Shakkaliev, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration, and Laziz Kudratov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, signed an agreement to regulate the activities of the International Centre for Industrial Cooperation “Central Asia”7. This center, set to be established on the border of the two countries, will house production sites, warehouses for goods and equipment storage, and transport infrastructure. The aim is to expedite cargo delivery and reduce logistics costs. The Industrial Cooperation Centre is expected to stimulate the creation of new production facilities and jobs, aid in the processing of agricultural and industrial products, and provide logistics services for goods transportation. It's hoped that the centre will enhance transport efficiency and expedite customs clearance processes. The signing of this agreement is a practical step towards the realization of the project. The launch of the Industrial Cooperation Centre is poised to serve as a catalyst for the further development of international trade and economic integration between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It's also projected to contribute to increasing bilateral trade turnover to up to $10 billion.