BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 8. Uzbekistan and
Serbia are moving toward developing a free trade agreement aimed at
increasing bilateral trade by expanding supplies of in-demand
goods, as the two countries seek to deepen economic
cooperation.


This was reflected in the statement by the press service of the
Uzbek president, following talks between Uzbek President Shavkat
Mirziyoyev and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade,
where the sides emphasized the need to increase mutual trade and
create conditions for broader access to each other’s markets.


The leaders highlighted the importance of developing and
adopting a free trade agreement as part of efforts to expand trade
between Uzbekistan and Serbia. They also stressed the need to
establish cooperation in the field of standardization and organize
reciprocal trade exhibitions.


The proposed agreement is expected to become part of the broader
economic agenda between the two countries, alongside efforts to
strengthen direct contacts between businesses and promote goods
that are in demand in their respective markets.


“Particular attention was paid to increasing mutual trade,
primarily through expanding supplies of goods in demand in the
markets of the two countries,” the Uzbek presidential
administration said.


The sides also emphasized the importance of cooperation in
standardization, which was identified as another area requiring
closer coordination as bilateral trade develops.







Reciprocal exhibitions were also highlighted as a practical tool
for promoting products and strengthening business contacts between
Uzbekistan and Serbia.


The trade discussions took place as the two countries seek to
translate growing political relations into broader economic
cooperation. Earlier during the visit, Uzbekistan and Serbia also discussed new
joint projects in transportation and logistics, light and food
industries, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, medicine and the digital
economy.


The two sides have also identified industrial cooperation in
areas including auto components, equipment, electrical engineering
and electronics as having significant potential.


The development of a free trade agreement would add another
dimension to these efforts, with the immediate focus placed on
increasing mutual trade and expanding the range of goods supplied
between the two countries.