BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. Uzbekistan and
the United States reached new agreements worth $12 billion to
expand trade and investment cooperation during the second meeting
of the U.S.-Uzbek Business and Investment Council, Uzbek President
Shavkat Mirziyoyev said during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of
State Marco Rubio in Samarkand on October 19.


This was reflected in the statement by the press service of the
Uzbek president.


The meeting focused on strengthening the Uzbek-U.S. strategic
partnership and implementing agreements reached at the highest
level, according to the Uzbek president’s press service.


Rubio conveyed greetings and best wishes to Mirziyoyev from U.S.
President Donald Trump. The sides also reviewed the outcomes of the
latest C5+1 ministerial meeting, which brought together the United
States and five Central Asian countries.


Bilateral trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the United
States has increased by 35% since the beginning of 2026, the
statement said. Economic cooperation spans civil aviation,
automotive manufacturing, mining, energy, agriculture,
digitalization and financial services.







The officials highlighted the role of the Business and
Investment Council in expanding commercial ties and attracting
investment. The latest meeting resulted in new agreements worth $12
billion.


Additionally, the sides discussed opportunities to expand
cooperation in critical minerals, energy, transportation,
artificial intelligence and digital technologies, as well as
strengthen ties between regional authorities and facilitate
exchanges between business delegations.


Security cooperation, including efforts to combat terrorism,
extremism, drug trafficking and illegal migration, was another
focus of the talks. The officials also reviewed educational,
cultural and tourism ties, alongside preparations for upcoming
high-level bilateral events.


The meeting followed the launch of the Uzbekistan-U.S. Enhanced
Strategic Partnership Dialogue. Its first session resulted in the
signing of several documents, including the Artemis Accords on principles for peaceful space
exploration, according to the statement.