BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 21. The
Uzbek-Azerbaijani tandem could become one of the potential
integration centers of the Turkic world in the 21st century,
helping strengthen economic connectivity across Eurasia, Uzbek
political analyst and expert Ravshan Nazarov told Trend.
According to the expert, the next stage of economic cooperation
between the two countries should focus on moving from trade in
finished goods toward the creation of joint production chains.
“This is where the greatest potential for mutual investment lies.
Promising areas in industry include machinery, electrical
engineering, chemical and petrochemical industries, construction
materials, textiles and pharmaceuticals,” Nazarov said.
He emphasized that the goal is not limited to establishing
individual enterprises but involves creating integrated cooperation
chains, where component production, assembly and further processing
can be distributed between the two countries. “Today, Azerbaijan
and Uzbekistan are already implementing projects in construction,
geology, energy, agriculture, tourism and other promising sectors,”
the expert noted.
Nazarov separately highlighted the automotive industry as one of
the most promising areas for cooperation. “Uzbekistan has a strong
industrial base and a developed automotive sector, while Azerbaijan
has a strategic geographic location, access to international
transport routes and opportunities to promote products to the
markets of the Caucasus, Türkiye, Europe and the Middle East,” he
said.
According to him, potential areas of cooperation include joint
production of automotive components, electric vehicles, commercial
transport and the development of related service
infrastructure.
Speaking about energy cooperation, the expert noted that the
potential extends beyond traditional resources. “Today, renewable
energy, energy efficiency and electricity transmission are becoming
increasingly important. Azerbaijan is consistently developing its
renewable energy potential, while Uzbekistan is actively
implementing solar and wind energy projects. Their technological
and investment cooperation could expand into joint projects in
third countries,” Nazarov said.
He also pointed to significant opportunities in agriculture,
including food processing, logistics, food production, seed
development, agricultural technologies and the efficient use of
water resources. “It is important that in 2023 the
Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Company was established with
capital of $500 million. Its mandate includes investments not only
in the two countries but also in third markets. This means that the
partnership is gradually taking on the role of a regional
investment mechanism,” the expert said.
Commenting on the development of the Trans-Caspian International
Transport Route, Nazarov noted that the Middle Corridor is becoming
not only a transport route but also an instrument for building a
new model of Eurasian economic connectivity. “For Uzbekistan, as a
landlocked country, Azerbaijan is of exceptional importance:
through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye, an
alternative route to European markets is opening. For Azerbaijan,
Central Asia is becoming a source of growing cargo flows and an
important direction for economic cooperation,” he said.
The expert noted that transit cargo volumes between Azerbaijan
and Uzbekistan exceeded 1.5 million tons in 2025, while in the
first half of 2026 they reached almost 1 million tons.
At the same time, he stressed that further development of the
route requires not only increasing cargo volumes but also
harmonizing tariffs, digitalizing customs procedures, introducing
electronic documentation, expanding container transportation, and
developing port and railway infrastructure. “In this regard,
Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan can serve as a kind of logistics bridge
connecting Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Türkiye and Europe,”
Nazarov said.
Speaking about the role of the two countries within the
Organization of Turkic States (OTS), the expert noted that the
significance of the Uzbek-Azerbaijani partnership goes beyond
political cooperation. “Baku and Tashkent can connect the economic,
transport and cultural-humanitarian potential of two major regions
— the South Caucasus and Central Asia,” he said.
According to Nazarov, Azerbaijan serves as a gateway for Central
Asia to the Caucasus, Türkiye and European markets, while
Uzbekistan has significant human capital, industrial capacity and
consumer potential in Central Asia. “Within the framework of the
Organization of Turkic States, cooperation can develop in trade and
investment, transport connectivity, energy, the digital economy,
industrial cooperation, tourism, education and humanitarian
exchanges,” the expert noted.
He emphasized that the most promising model is the gradual
alignment of economic interests and the creation of a common space
of opportunities. “Uzbek-Azerbaijani partnership can become one of
the driving forces of the OTS. It demonstrates that a shared
historical and cultural heritage can acquire practical meaning
through investments, new transport routes, joint ventures,
technological exchange and business expansion into new markets,”
Nazarov said.
In his view, combining the Middle Corridor with investment
cooperation can help create a comprehensive economic ecosystem. “If
transport infrastructure ensures the movement of goods, joint
investment mechanisms ensure the production of those goods and the
creation of added value. In this case, we are no longer talking
simply about a transport route, but about a fully-fledged economic
ecosystem,” the expert concluded.
