BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 9. Uzbekistan and
Serbia will seek to significantly increase bilateral trade by
expanding the range of goods exchanged and developing joint
production, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at a joint
business forum attended by more than 200 government and business
representatives from the two countries.
This was reflected in the statement by the press service of the
Uzbek president.
Mirziyoyev and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić participated
in the forum, which brought together executives of major industrial
and trading companies from Uzbekistan and Serbia.
Serbian businesses at the event included pharmaceutical company
Galenika, AbelaPharm, Gosha Fom, Yumco, Luss Textile and other
companies.
Addressing the forum, Mirziyoyev said the leaders’ recent talks
had opened a new chapter in bilateral relations, highlighted by the
establishment of a strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and
Serbia.
The Uzbek president said the countries should substantially
increase mutual trade by expanding the range of goods supplied
between their markets and simplifying customs procedures.
“Together, we have every opportunity to significantly increase
the volume of mutual trade by expanding the range of supplies and
simplifying customs procedures,” Mirziyoyev said, according to the
Uzbek presidential administration.
Industrial cooperation was identified as another key priority.
The two countries have adopted a joint Action Plan for Industrial Partnership for 2026–2028,
which is intended to support new manufacturing projects and deeper
business ties.
Mirziyoyev outlined several priority areas for economic
cooperation, including establishing joint production of textiles
and electrical equipment, automotive and industrial components,
localizing pharmaceutical production, and developing deeper
processing of fruits and vegetables.
The countries also see opportunities to cooperate on software
development and artificial intelligence projects, adding
technology-intensive industries to the expanding bilateral economic
agenda.
Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan was ready to create favorable
investment and business conditions for Serbian companies and
provide practical support for the implementation of individual
joint projects.
The forum brought together representatives of the private sector
at a time when Tashkent and Belgrade are seeking to translate their
newly established strategic partnership into concrete economic
projects.
The event concluded with the signing of a number of bilateral
economic agreements and trade contracts, according to the Uzbek
presidential administration.
