BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 21. Uzbekistan and
Azerbaijan are laying the foundation for a new economic space
connecting Central Asia, the Caspian region, the South Caucasus and
European markets, Uzbek political analyst and Chief Research Fellow
at the Center for Foreign Policy Studies Shakhodat Khoshimova told
Trend.
According to the expert, relations between Uzbekistan and
Azerbaijan are at a historic high, driven by strong political trust
between the two countries’ leaders, close historical and cultural
ties, and growing economic interdependence. “Today, our relations
have already moved beyond traditional political dialogue. Trade and
investment cooperation, industrial cooperation, energy,
agriculture, transport and logistics are actively developing,”
Khoshimova said.
She noted that an important stage in the development of
bilateral relations is the transition toward deeper economic
cooperation. “The next stage of Uzbek-Azerbaijani cooperation is
the transition from individual joint projects to the formation of
sustainable transregional production, transport and energy chains.
This can become the main economic foundation of the allied
relations between the two countries,” the expert said.
Speaking about prospects for expanding mutual investments,
Khoshimova highlighted the significant potential of industrial
cooperation. “Major opportunities exist in petrochemicals,
automotive components and electric mobility, electrical
engineering, pharmaceuticals and construction materials
production,” she noted.
According to her, additional prospects remain in the
agro-industrial sector, food processing, textiles, education and
healthcare. “Technology exchange and the creation of joint
export-oriented production chains are particularly promising
areas,” the expert emphasized.
She also pointed out that the geographic position of Uzbekistan
and Azerbaijan creates natural conditions for closer integration of
the markets of Central Asia, the Caspian region, the South Caucasus
and Europe.
Commenting on the development of the Trans-Caspian International
Transport Route, Khoshimova noted that the Middle Corridor is
gradually evolving from a transport route into an important
economic link connecting regions. “For Uzbekistan, this creates
additional opportunities to diversify foreign trade routes, while
for Azerbaijan it strengthens the country’s role as a key transit
hub between Central Asia and Europe,” she said.
According to the expert, further development of the route
requires a comprehensive approach. “It is important not only to
develop physical infrastructure but also to ensure coordination
across the entire transport chain — including rail connections,
port infrastructure, tariff policies, customs procedures, digital
documentation and container logistics,” Khoshimova said.
She emphasized the special role of the Baku International Sea
Trade Port in consolidating cargo flows from Uzbekistan and other
Central Asian countries and facilitating their further movement
along the Middle Corridor. “Additional opportunities are being
created by the development of new railway links between Central
Asia and China, including the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.
As these connections develop, the cargo base oriented toward the
Caspian and further toward the markets of the Caucasus, Türkiye and
Europe may expand,” the expert said.
According to Khoshimova, the importance of the Middle Corridor
goes beyond transit. “More efficient transport connectivity creates
conditions for the development of trade, investment, logistics
infrastructure and new production chains. Therefore, transport
infrastructure is becoming one of the key factors shaping broader
economic interdependence among the countries of the region,” she
noted.
Speaking about the role of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan within the
Organization of Turkic States (OTS), the expert said that the two
countries represent one of the most dynamic partnerships within the
organization. “The significance of their cooperation lies in the
fact that the two countries connect strategically important regions
— Central Asia and the South Caucasus — while giving Turkic
integration increasingly practical economic substance,” Khoshimova
said.
According to her, investment cooperation is one of the key areas
of focus. “The experience of establishing the Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan
Investment Company demonstrates the potential for creating
bilateral financing mechanisms for joint projects. At the same
time, multilateral financial infrastructure is developing within
the OTS framework, including the Turkic Investment Fund,” the
expert noted.
She added that cooperation between Baku and Tashkent also
contributes to the development of the Middle Corridor, expansion of
trade ties, improvement of tariff policies and the introduction of
digital solutions. “As a result, conditions are being created not
only for the movement of goods but also for the formation of joint
production and investment chains connecting Central Asia, the
Caspian region, the South Caucasus and Türkiye,” Khoshimova
emphasized.
The expert separately highlighted the importance of coordination
between the foreign ministries of the two countries and their
cooperation on international platforms. “It is important to
continue close coordination between the foreign ministries in
promoting common interests at regional and international platforms,
strengthening allied dialogue within the United Nations, the
Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the
CIS and other international structures,” she said.
According to Khoshimova, expanding cooperation between Central
Asia and Azerbaijan opens new opportunities for creating a broader
economic space. “Through joint efforts, a new geoeconomic reality
is effectively taking shape in the form of a consolidated
macro-region with strong potential for shared development,” the
expert concluded.
