Uzbek expert calls for digital data exchange system with Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan should establish a digital data exchange system, Mirshokhid Aslanov, Executive Director and co-founder of Uzbekistan's Center for Progressive Reforms, said, according to Report.

Aslanov made the remarks at the 2nd International Conference of Leading National Analytical Centers of Organization of Turkic States in Baku.

He said the existing systems in the two countries need to be interconnected. For example, an exporter in Uzbekistan could enter cargo information once, while transit countries would receive the data. The importing country could obtain the information before the cargo arrives, allowing transit carriers to pass through a green corridor.

Aslanov said cargo transportation from Tashkent to Baku currently takes between nearly eight days to three weeks.

"However, for example, transportation by ferry takes 24 hours. This means that the Caspian Sea is not actually an obstacle. The real obstacle is us, the people. Documentation and waiting at the border are the real problems. But this problem can be solved," he said.

According to Aslanov, documentation procedures and border waiting times are the main obstacles to trade between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

He said the trade potential between the two countries has already exceeded $1 billion, reaching $1.1 billion.

However, he noted that actual trade volumes differ significantly according to the two countries' statistics - approximately $800 million according to Azerbaijani data and around $300 million according to Uzbek data.

Aslanov added that gold was not included in these figures, and estimated the overall trade volume between the two countries at around $800 million.