Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 17 September 2024, the first meeting of the Trade Working Group between Uzbekistan and Türkiye took place online at the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan. Representatives from the relevant ministries and departments of both countries participated in the meeting.

From Türkiye, the meeting was attended by Hakkı Burunçu, Director of the Department of the Ministry of Commerce, while Uzbekistan was represented by Shukhrat Matkarimov, Deputy Director of the Department of the Ministry of Economy and Finance; Inom Abdurakhmanov, Director of the Department of the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade; and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, State Customs Committee, Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and various industry associations, including Uzeltelhsanoat, Uzsanoatqurilishmateriallari, Uzcharmsanoat, Uzbekzargarsanoati, and the Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry.

During the meeting, the parties discussed measures necessary to increase trade volumes between the two countries to US$5 billion.

They also addressed issues related to accelerating the expansion of the Preferential Trade Agreement between the two countries to boost trade volume.

The meeting resulted in the agreement on a technical assignment concerning the planned tasks and the work of the Trade Working Group, which was established to remove barriers in bilateral trade, ease tariff and non-tariff restrictions on a parity basis, and increase trade volumes.

The Trade Working Group was identified as the main regulator of trade processes between the two countries, responsible for monitoring trade operations and developing measures to further increase mutual trade volumes.

The Turkish side announced a planned visit by a delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Commerce of Türkiye to Uzbekistan on 30 September 2024. The visit will focus on negotiations to expand the Preferential Trade Agreement between the two countries, including a list of new goods.

As a result of the meeting, it was decided to develop and sign an "Action Plan" outlining specific measures for the effective organization of the Trade Working Group’s activities.