BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 3. Uzbekistan and
Kazakhstan are set to convene the inaugural meeting of the Council
of Heads of Regions in 2026. This new platform aims to facilitate
direct regional interactions and expedite the execution of
collaborative economic and infrastructure initiatives.
Within the framework of the Council, the regions are expected to
focus on practical issues, including the development of industrial
cooperation, the attraction of investments, the expansion of
logistics links, and cooperation in the agro-industrial sector. The
main objective of the new format is to move from general agreements
to the implementation of concrete joint projects that can be
launched and carried out with the active involvement of regions
from both countries.
The formation of the Council of Heads of Regions is seen as a
natural progression in the deepening of Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan
cooperation. Bilateral ties have been steadily advancing in recent
years, with trade turnover between the two nations reaching $4.97
billion by the close of 2025, reflecting an 11.4% year-on-year
growth. Exports amounted to $1.55 billion, while imports increased
by 16.6% to $3.4 billion. As of December 1, 2025, 1,199 enterprises
with Kazakh capital were operating in Uzbekistan, underscoring the
growing economic collaboration. Looking ahead, both countries aim
to elevate mutual trade to $10 billion by 2030.
In parallel, there is a shared emphasis on enhancing the
regional dimension of their partnership. This focus is intended to
enable more agile responses to business needs, provide stronger
support for investment initiatives, and foster greater local-level
cooperation between enterprises.
The idea of establishing the Council gained additional momentum
following the visit of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to
Uzbekistan on November 14-16. As a result of the talks, the sides
signed several agreements whose implementation largely depends on
active engagement at the regional level. Accordingly, special
emphasis was placed on cooperation between the regions of the two
countries.
The first meeting of the Council is expected to result in the
formation of a list of priority projects and the coordination of
further steps for their implementation. The focus will be on
initiatives in industry, the agro-industrial sector, logistics, and
infrastructure, where regional cooperation can deliver rapid and
tangible results. Discussions are also expected to cover project
support mechanisms and the removal of administrative barriers.
Industrial collaboration remains a cornerstone of the
partnership between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. To this end, the
International Center for Industrial Cooperation “Central Asia” has
been established to foster production linkages between enterprises
in both countries. Additionally, new joint ventures, valued at a
total of $1.3 billion, have been launched across priority sectors,
with the overall project portfolio surpassing $8 billion. To
further drive these initiatives, the creation of a joint Investment
Platform has been proposed.
Uzbekistan’s regional entities are already actively engaged in
these developments. In the Syrdarya region, work has commenced on a
70-hectare industrial cluster, which will accommodate production
facilities for polyethylene pipes, construction materials, and
agro-industrial goods. Similar initiatives are underway in
Karakalpakstan, as well as in the Tashkent and Samarkand regions,
further expanding the scope of bilateral industrial
cooperation.
On the Kazakh side, the Turkistan, Kyzylorda, and Zhetysu
regions are participating in joint regional projects. These regions
are focusing on the processing of agricultural raw materials and
the production of food products with high added value.
Beyond industrial cooperation, the Council of Heads of Regions
is also seen as a platform for coordinating projects in the
transport and energy sectors, where implementation largely depends
on coordinated regional actions. The sides are paying particular
attention to the development of international transport corridors,
including the Trans-Caspian route, the North–South corridor, as
well as new routes via China, Iran, and Türkiye. The Trans-Afghan
railway project is also under consideration, as it could
significantly expand Central Asia’s transit capacity and strengthen
the region’s role in international logistics.
Close coordination at the regional level is also required in the
energy sector. At present, gas transportation systems are operating
in a stable and coordinated manner. Over the first seven months of
2025, transit of Kazakh gas through Uzbekistan amounted to 921.7
million cubic meters. Kazakhstan remains a key transit partner for
Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan, with volumes planned to
increase to 11 billion cubic meters per year from 2026 through
2038. In addition, in 2026, Uzbekistan plans to supply Kazakhstan
with around 900 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, helping to
cover potential shortages in certain regions of the country.
The holding of the first meeting of the Council of Heads of
Regions is regarded by both sides as a step toward more practical
and closer cooperation. The new format is expected to accelerate
the implementation of joint projects, strengthen coordination
between regions, and provide additional momentum to the development
of the Uzbekistan–Kazakhstan partnership in trade, industry,
transport, and energy.
