TASHKENT, Thursday, May 28, 2026 (WNP): President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev is set to participate in the upcoming Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit in Astana at the end of May, underscoring Tashkent’s growing focus on expanding practical economic cooperation within the Eurasian space.
In recent years, Uzbekistan’s engagement with the EAEU has become a key component of its foreign economic strategy aimed at strengthening trade relations, enhancing regional connectivity, and building sustainable mechanisms of cooperation. Against the backdrop of global economic transformation, increasingly complex supply chains, and intensified competition for investment, the Eurasian direction has gained strategic importance for Uzbekistan.
President Mirziyoyev, addressing the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in 2025, noted that “in the context of growing fragmentation of global markets, the increasing complexity of supply chains, and shifts in the allocation of investment resources, the deepening of pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union is of fundamental importance for us.”
The statement reflects Uzbekistan’s commitment to long-term, stable, and mutually beneficial economic ties across the region.
The EAEU, one of the largest integration blocs in the post-Soviet space, was established on the foundation of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space. It formally began functioning on 1 January 2015 following the entry into force of the Treaty on the EAEU, signed by Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia, and later joined by Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.
Uzbekistan’s modern engagement with the bloc began in 2019, when the country started reviewing expanded cooperation. In December 2020, Uzbekistan obtained observer status in the EAEU, allowing it to participate in institutional meetings, maintain structured dialogue with the Eurasian Economic Commission, and study integration mechanisms more closely.
Since then, cooperation has become more systematic and results-oriented. An interagency working group was established, regular consultations with the Eurasian Economic Commission were introduced, and a memorandum of cooperation was signed between Uzbekistan and the EEC. The two sides have also implemented multi-year cooperation plans covering trade, industry, transport, finance, and digital development.
Uzbekistan’s participation in EAEU-level meetings has also expanded, with the President regularly attending Supreme Eurasian Economic Council sessions since 2021. Government-level engagement has likewise intensified through participation in the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council.
Trade between Uzbekistan and EAEU member states has shown steady growth in recent years. By the end of 2025, bilateral trade turnover exceeded USD 20 billion, with EAEU countries accounting for nearly a quarter of Uzbekistan’s total foreign trade.
Cooperation has also expanded into sectoral initiatives, including e-commerce development, digitalization of rail freight transport, the Eurasian Agroexpress project, and climate-related initiatives. These efforts aim to reduce logistics costs, improve cross-border trade efficiency, and strengthen transport connectivity across the region.
At the current stage, cooperation is gradually evolving beyond traditional trade and economic ties to include digital transformation, technological cooperation, and infrastructure development. A key priority remains the removal of trade barriers and the creation of more efficient mechanisms for economic interaction.
Digital integration is emerging as an important area of focus, with Uzbekistan seeking greater harmonization of digital platforms, expansion of e-commerce, and modernized data exchange systems to support trade efficiency and economic modernization.
Within a relatively short period of observer status, Uzbekistan and the EAEU have established stable dialogue mechanisms, expanded trade relations, and initiated concrete sectoral and infrastructure projects.
For Uzbekistan, cooperation with the Eurasian region remains an important pillar of its broader strategy for economic modernization, industrial development, and improved transport connectivity.
At the same time, Tashkent continues to pursue a flexible and pragmatic approach, prioritizing national economic interests and mutual benefit.
Amid ongoing global economic shifts, changing trade routes, and rising competition for markets, Uzbekistan views engagement with the EAEU as an important tool for sustaining economic growth, expanding exports, and enhancing competitiveness. The country is expected to further deepen practical cooperation, broaden areas of collaboration, and maintain constructive dialogue on regional development priorities.
