TASHKENT, Tuesday, March 24, 2026 (WNP): Bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan has the potential to grow by an additional 30–40 percent, driven largely by enhanced industrial cooperation, according to estimates by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR).
The assessment was shared by Khurshed Asadov, Deputy Director of CERR, while addressing an international conference titled “Uzbekistan – Tajikistan: New Prospects for Alliance and Regional Cooperation” held in Tashkent.
Asadov noted that economic relations between the two neighboring countries have shown steady and positive growth in recent years, supported by agreements on strategic partnership and allied relations that have strengthened institutional cooperation.
According to CERR data, bilateral trade increased 3.8 times between 2017 and 2025, rising from $238 million to $912 million. During the same period, Uzbekistan’s exports grew 3.7 times, while imports from Tajikistan surged more than fourfold.
He highlighted that Tajikistan has emerged as one of Uzbekistan’s key regional partners, ranking ninth among countries importing Uzbek products.
Despite the growth, Asadov emphasized that the full potential of bilateral economic ties remains underutilized. He said trade volumes could be significantly expanded through import substitution, particularly by replacing Tajikistan’s imports from third countries with goods produced in Uzbekistan.
The expert identified geographical proximity, a shared border, and well-developed transport links as key advantages that could facilitate deeper trade integration. He pointed to strong prospects for expanding Uzbekistan’s industrial exports, including automobiles, household appliances, textiles, and chemical products.
In addition, Asadov underscored the importance of industrial cooperation, proposing the establishment of joint processing facilities in border regions, particularly in agricultural processing and agrologistics.
He further noted that improvements in regional transport infrastructure and expanded transit opportunities across Central Asia could act as a catalyst for broader economic integration.
“The current level of allied relations provides a solid foundation to move toward a more advanced model of economic cooperation based on joint investments, industrial collaboration, and regional infrastructure development,” he said, adding that such efforts would strengthen economic connectivity and contribute to sustainable growth in Central Asia.
The conference was organized by the International Institute for Central Asia (IICA) and brought together government officials, diplomats, and experts from both countries to discuss trade, investment, and humanitarian cooperation.
