Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov held the 23rd meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Bilateral Cooperation in Aktau.

At the meeting in a narrow format, the progress of the implementation of agreements reached at the highest level was reviewed, and priority areas for further work were discussed.

“Thanks to the joint efforts of the heads of our states — President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev — multifaceted cooperation between our countries is dynamically developing and today is a successful example of interaction for the entire Central Asian region. The results of the state visit of the President of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan in November last year once again confirmed the trusting nature of the Kazakh-Uzbek partnership,” Olzhas Bektenov emphasized.

“This year, within the framework of the meetings of our respected Presidents in the cities of Bukhara, Astana, and Turkestan, the governments of the two countries were given specific tasks to expand cooperation. I express my readiness to take all necessary measures to fulfill these instructions. I am confident that our today’s negotiations will contribute to the further development of trade, investment, industrial, transport, interregional, and cultural-humanitarian cooperation,” Abdulla Aripov noted.

Based on the results of 2025, the volume of bilateral trade amounted to $4.8 billion. Over the first five months of 2026, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan increased by 37%, to $2.3 billion. Kazakhstan’s export potential is noted in metallurgy, mechanical engineering, petrochemicals, the chemical industry, pharmaceuticals, the production of vehicles, and construction materials. Olzhas Bektenov emphasized the importance of high-quality implementation of the Roadmap in the field of investment and trade amounting to $7.8 billion. Joint work on the projects included in it will ensure the diversification of trade turnover, the expansion of mutual supplies, and the attraction of new investments.

One of the main areas of cooperation is industrial cooperation. Currently, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are working on the implementation of 80 joint projects with a total value of more than $1.8 billion. 15 projects worth $227 million have been launched with the creation of about 5 thousand jobs. Today, 6 projects worth $102 million are also in the active phase. The implementation of 59 promising initiatives amounting to $1.5 billion is being worked out.

Issues of transport connectivity and the development of logistics corridors were considered. Based on the results of 2025, the volume of railway transportation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan increased by 16% and amounted to 32.3 million tons. To further increase transportation volumes, a joint Action Plan has been developed to increase the throughput capacity of railway corridors from 35 to 60 million tons. Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov noted the importance of the further development of railway infrastructure to expand transport links with Central Asian countries. In this regard, it was proposed to consider the possibility of modernizing adjacent railway sections and opening additional checkpoints.

Positive dynamics is observed in the use of Kazakhstan’s sea infrastructure. Cooperation in the field of road transportation is developing. The transition to the electronic exchange of foreign permit forms in the E-Permit system has made it possible to increase their number more than tenfold over four years and reduce border crossing time from 9 hours to 30 minutes.

In the field of water management, readiness to develop cooperation on the basis of mutual understanding and consideration of the interests of both countries was confirmed.

The parties also emphasized the importance of developing cultural and humanitarian ties. Currently, joint work continues on the inclusion of historical and cultural sites of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the transnational nomination “The Great Silk Road: Fergana-Syrdarya Corridor” for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

At the meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission in an expanded format, attention was paid to the implementation of specific projects and the further improvement of the effectiveness of measures taken to expand trade and economic cooperation.

From the Kazakh side, reports were delivered by Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev, Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev, and Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Talgat Momyshev. From the Uzbek side, Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Transport Ilkhom Makhkamov, and First Deputy Minister of Water Management Zokir Ishpulatov were heard.

Following the discussion, the parties agreed to intensify cooperation in industry, the transport and transit sphere, and other sectors of the economy. Upon completion, the heads of government signed the protocol of the 23rd meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Bilateral Cooperation.

#Olzhas Bektenov #International Cooperation #Trade and economic cooperation

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