TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 11. Uzbekistan
and the European Union discussed expanding cooperation in key
areas, including digitalization, transport connectivity, critical
raw materials, and water management, Trend reports via the Uzbek Ministry of
Investment, Industry, and Trade.
The talks were held during a meeting between Uzbekistan’s
Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, and
Charlotte Adriaen, Head of the Central Asia and Afghanistan Unit at
the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International
Partnerships (DG INTPA), alongside Toivo Klaar, the EU Ambassador
to Uzbekistan.
The parties also engaged in discussions regarding the
enhancement of their partnership through a more dynamic utilization
of existing dialogue platforms and business cooperation mechanisms
involving Uzbekistan, the European Union, and Central Asian
countries.
The sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing practical
collaboration and sustaining a constructive dialogue across key
sectors of mutual interest.
In October 2025, Uzbekistan and the European Union formalized
their commitment through the signing of the Enhanced Partnership
and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA). This agreement establishes a
broadened framework for political engagement and economic
cooperation, aimed at reinforcing EU support for Uzbekistan’s
modernization efforts, particularly in sectors such as industry,
innovation, and investment-driven fields like pharmaceuticals.
