BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 1. Uzbekistan and
Georgia pledged to deepen trade, investment and industrial
cooperation, as the two countries seek to increase bilateral trade
to $1 billion and expand collaboration in manufacturing, logistics
and technology.
This was reflected in the statement by the Ministry of
Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan following the
Uzbekistan–Georgia Business Forum held on Tuesday.
The forum, held in Tbilisi ahead of Uzbek President Shavkat
Mirziyoyev's state visit to Georgia, brought together about 300
representatives of government agencies, financial institutions and
businesses from both countries.
Uzbek Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov
and Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam
Kvrivishvili opened the event, emphasizing the growing momentum in
bilateral economic relations.
"The forum marks an important step toward elevating
Uzbekistan–Georgia economic cooperation to a new level, with a
focus on practical projects, industrial partnerships and long-term
investment," Uzbekistan's Ministry of Investments, Industry and
Trade said in a statement.
According to the ministry, bilateral trade reached $268 million
in 2025, while both governments reaffirmed their goal of increasing
annual trade turnover to $1 billion.
It was stressed that future cooperation would extend beyond
trade to include joint manufacturing, industrial cooperation and
access to third-country markets.
Participants identified transport and logistics as one of the
key pillars of the partnership, highlighting the strategic
importance of the Middle Corridor connecting Central Asia with
Europe through the South Caucasus.
"The parties emphasized the importance of developing the Middle
Corridor and strengthening Georgia's role as Uzbekistan's gateway
to the Black Sea and European markets," the ministry said.
Special attention was given to plans to establish a trade,
logistics and manufacturing hub in Georgia's Poti Free Industrial
Zone, which officials said would facilitate export growth and
improve regional supply chains.
To support industrial collaboration, the two countries announced
plans to adopt an Industrial Cooperation Program through 2027,
outlining new manufacturing projects, investment initiatives and
long-term partnerships between enterprises.
The forum also identified pharmaceuticals, agribusiness, energy,
electrical engineering and digital technologies as priority sectors
for future cooperation.
Georgian companies were invited to establish production
facilities in Uzbekistan, including at Tashkent Pharma Park, while
both sides explored opportunities to combine Uzbekistan's
agricultural resources with Georgia's expertise in food processing,
winemaking, branding and premium packaging.
In the technology sector, discussions focused on expanding
cooperation in fintech, e-commerce, artificial intelligence,
business process outsourcing and the digitalization of trade and
logistics.
Financial cooperation also featured prominently during the
forum.
Participants highlighted the expansion of TBC Bank's operations
in Uzbekistan, noting that the Georgian banking group and its
partners have invested more than $460 million in the country.
"Financial institutions will continue to play an important role
in supporting industrial development, export-oriented production
and infrastructure projects," the ministry said.
Tourism was another major topic of discussion. According to the
ministry, arrivals from Georgia to Uzbekistan have increased more
than 2.5-fold since 2019, while visits by Uzbek citizens to Georgia
rose 50.2% in 2025. Officials said the trend creates opportunities
to develop joint tourism routes linking the Silk Road, the Caucasus
and the Black Sea region.
The forum concluded with the signing of a series of bilateral
cooperation agreements, followed by business-to-business and
government-to-business meetings aimed at advancing investment
projects and strengthening long-term economic ties between
Uzbekistan and Georgia.
