Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Interregional Forum to be held in August

The next Azerbaijani-Uzbek interregional forum is planned for August 2026, Sahib Saifnazarov, director of the Department for the Development of Special Economic and Industrial Zones of the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, said at the Uzbek-Azerbaijani Forum of Industrial and Economic Zones, Report informs.

According to him, the foundation for economic relations between the two countries was laid back in 1995, and the Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation has been in effect since 1998.

Saifnazarov noted that measures taken by the leadership of the two countries are contributing to the active development of economic ties. Currently, 367 enterprises with Azerbaijani capital operate in Uzbekistan.

Trade turnover between the two countries is also growing. By the end of 2025, it had increased by 15%, and in the first four months of this year, growth had already reached almost 49%, he said.

The ministry representative also spoke about the development of free economic zones (FEZs) in Uzbekistan. Although the law on FEZs was adopted in 1996, the first such zone only began operating in 2008.

According to him, a new version of the law on free economic zones has currently been drafted with the participation of international experts and is being coordinated with relevant ministries and agencies.

Saifnazarov expressed confidence that further improvements to the legislation will facilitate the development of economic zones, noting that Uzbekistan can also take into account Azerbaijan's experience in this area.