On May 6, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov visited the Dostuk Stele (Friendship) in the country’s southwestern Batken region, erected at the junction point of the state borders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, where he reviewed the concept and master plan for the proposed Dostuk International Trade and Economic Park.
During a summit in the northern Tajik city of Khujand on March 31, 2025, Presidents Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan signed a historic agreement on the junction point of the three countries’ state borders.
The leaders also took part in a remote inauguration ceremony for the Friendship Stele, which marks the exact location where the borders of the three countries meet and symbolizes friendship among the three nations, the resolution of long-standing border issues, and a new stage of regional cooperation.
The planned Dostuk International Trade and Economic Park would span 100 hectares and include administrative, tourism, logistics, production, commercial, and recreational zones. The project aims to strengthen trade and logistics links, attract investment, and create new economic opportunities.
If implemented, the project is expected to create more than 5,000 jobs and increase cross-border trade.
The concept also includes the development of tourism infrastructure and the organization of international cultural events, ethnic festivals, and exhibitions, contributing to stronger cultural and humanitarian ties while promoting the historical heritage of the Silk Road.
Japarov said good-neighborly relations among Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan remain important, citing the role of joint infrastructure and economic initiatives in regional stability and sustainable development.
He also expressed confidence that, with mutual support from the three neighboring countries, the project could become a major platform for trade and investment, as well as a symbol of peace, trust, and unity among the peoples of Central Asia.
