BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 14. Uzbekistan and
Japan are seeking to deepen cooperation in critical minerals and
develop new industrial and trade links, with a memorandum aimed at
promoting Uzbek critical metals in the Japanese market emerging as
a key outcome of recent economic talks.
According to the statement by TMK, the memorandum was exchanged
between Uzbekistan Technological Metals Complex (TMK) and Masaki
Tanimoto, chairman of the Japan-Uzbekistan Committee for Economic
Cooperation and senior adviser to Mitsubishi Corporation, during
the 18th Joint Meeting of the Uzbekistan-Japan and Japan-Uzbekistan
Committees for Economic Cooperation in Tashkent.
The meeting brought together a delegation led by Japanese State
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Kenji Yamada, along with
representatives of major Japanese companies and institutions,
including Mitsubishi Corporation, the Japan External Trade
Organization (JETRO), the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy
Security (JOGMEC), the Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and
Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI).
TMK participated in the economic dialogue, with discussions
focusing on potential areas of industrial, technological and
investment cooperation.
Critical minerals and the development of resilient supply chains
were among the key issues discussed. The sides explored
opportunities for technology partnerships, joint industrial
projects and long-term cooperation in the sector.
“The memorandum creates new opportunities to promote critical
metals produced in Uzbekistan in the Japanese market and strengthen
long-term industrial cooperation between the two countries,” TMK
said.
The agreement is expected to support the marketing and promotion
of Uzbek critical metals in Japan, potentially strengthening trade
ties and creating additional opportunities for cooperation across
mining, processing and related industrial activities.
For Uzbekistan, expanding access to the Japanese market could
support efforts to increase the value generated from its mineral
resources and develop deeper industrial processing.
For Japanese companies and institutions, closer engagement with
Uzbekistan could contribute to the diversification and resilience
of critical-mineral supply chains, while opening opportunities for
technology, investment and industrial partnerships.
The memorandum adds a practical dimension to the broader
Uzbekistan-Japan economic dialogue and comes as the two countries
seek to expand cooperation in strategically important
industries.
