Uzbekistan-OTG: cooperation on the path of sustainable development and progress

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in the Azerbaijani city of Gabala to participate in the events of the summit of the Organization of Turkic States.

Thanks to its location, historical proximity and natural resources, the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is becoming an increasingly important platform for cooperation in the new stage of development. At the same time, the UTG plays an important role as a cultural bridge that promotes the rapprochement of peoples living in the participating countries.

The organization is based on the principles of equality and mutual interest, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for the sovereignty of states, which is widely recognized by the international community.

The UTG includes five countries - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan. Hungary, Turkmenistan and the Economic Cooperation Organization have observer status.

The organization acquired its current name on November 12, 2021 at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan. Before this, the organization was called the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States.

The main goal of the UTG is to strengthen trust and multifaceted ties between fraternal countries, develop cooperation in the trade, economic, energy, transport, tourism, cultural and humanitarian spheres, as well as coordinate efforts to ensure peace and security in the region.

The program became the conceptual basis for achieving these goals “Vision of the Turkic World - 2040”, adopted following the results of the VIII summit of heads of state in November 2021 in Istanbul.

For Uzbekistan, which joined the organization in 2019, participation in it was an important step not only in strengthening economic and political ties, but also in preserving and developing the common cultural identity of the Turkic world.

In 2022–2023, Uzbekistan chaired the OTG. The beginning of this period was marked by a summit held in Samarkand in November 2022 under the motto “A New Era of Turkic Civilization: Towards Common Progress and Prosperity.”

During the chairmanship, more than 100 events were held and new platforms for practical cooperation were created. Uzbekistan strived for an open, inclusive and diverse format of interaction, covering various regions and civilizations.

An important event was the adoption of the “Strategy of the Organization of Turkic States for 2022-2026” following the summit in Samarkand. This document became the first “road map” for the implementation of the concept “Turkic View - 2040”.

The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been actively participating in the organization’s summits since the country joined the UTG. In particular, the head attended the meetings of the Council of Heads of State on November 6, 2024 in Bishkek and May 21, 2025 in Budapest.

At these meetings, the state and prospects of multilateral partnerships were discussed, as well as current issues of practical cooperation.

In a speech at the informal summit of the UTC in Budapest, the President noted the complexity current geopolitical and geo-economic situation, intensifying regional conflicts and the consequences of climate change.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of solving international problems on the basis of international law and the UN Charter, as well as strengthening the common positions and approaches of the participating countries.

Speaking about the development of practical cooperation within the framework of the UTC, the head of state noted the huge unrealized potential and proposed a number of new initiatives.

The initiative is of particular importance Uzbekistan to sign the Treaty on Strategic Partnership, Eternal Friendship and Brotherhood between the Turkic States, which will be an important step in bringing peoples closer together and creating a long-term legal basis for multilateral cooperation.

“Last year we proposed to develop an Treaty on Strategic Partnership, Eternal Friendship and Brotherhood between the Turkic States. Today, the importance of this document is only increasing. Undoubtedly, this agreement will contribute to the further rapprochement of our peoples and strengthen the long-term legal basis for multilateral cooperation. I propose signing this document at the summit in Baku,” said the President.

From 2019 to the present, at the UTG summits, the President of Uzbekistan has put forward 98 practical initiatives to develop multilateral cooperation. More than 70 of them have already been implemented, about 30 are at the execution stage.

For Uzbekistan, the key priority within the organization is the economy. The country is currently focused on increasing exports, attracting investment, creating jobs, addressing unemployment and fighting poverty. All these tasks are closely related to integration into the global economy, where the OTG cooperation format can contribute to further integration and coordination of production processes.

The total area of ​​the UTC participating countries is about 4 million 244 thousand 26 square kilometers, and the population exceeds 170 million people. These are huge opportunities and a sales market.

According to the agreements reached, OTG is considered an effective mechanism for regional cooperation with huge integration potential. Trade and economic indicators between the participating countries are growing annually.

Today, the UTC countries jointly occupy third place after China and Russia in foreign trade with Uzbekistan. In 2024, the volume of mutual trade approached $10 billion, which is about 15% of the country’s total foreign trade turnover.

The growth of trade relations with Kazakhstan, the largest trading partner within the organization, as well as with Turkey, the second most important partner, is especially noticeable. At the end of 2024, the volume of trade turnover with Kazakhstan reached $4.28 billion, and with Turkey - $2.9 billion.

Similar positive dynamics are observed in trade with Azerbaijan. It is important that the volumes of mutual trade with partners within the framework of OTG annually update historical records.

The main export positions of Uzbekistan in the OTG markets are textiles, electrical engineering, automotive industry, fruits and vegetables, and non-ferrous metals. From UTG countries, rolled metal, aluminum, various mechanical tools, construction materials, petroleum products, the bulk of grain and other food products are imported into Uzbekistan.

To maintain and accelerate this positive dynamics, the implementation of the initiatives of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is important. These include the creation of the TURK-TRADE online platform, which simplifies and speeds up trade operations, as well as the adoption of a Program of Practical Measures to Expand Trade, which will help increase trade turnover between countries.

One ​​of the important areas of cooperation is industrial cooperation. Uzbekistan actively stimulates the development of this area and supports the creation of new enterprises with the participation of capital from UTG countries. By 2025, the number of such enterprises will reach almost 4,000, which is 60% more than in 2019. The share of these companies in the total number of enterprises with foreign capital in the country will be approximately 20%.

Particular attention is paid to transport cooperation. UTC countries demonstrate a steady growth of transit potential in the global economy. The volume of cargo transportation along the Middle Corridor in 2024 reached 4.5 million tons, which is almost 6 times higher than in 2020. This dynamic confirms the strategic importance of infrastructure projects such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.

The countries of the organization also strive to provide reliable and secure corridors for cooperation in the field of transport and energy in the Caucasus and Central Asia. This not only creates favorable conditions for expanding trade relations, but also contributes to the economic independence and prosperity of the region.

Uzbekistan is actively involved in projects to preserve and popularize cultural and historical heritage. In the field of education, the country supports exchange programs for students and scientists, strengthens ties between universities and scientific centers of the Turkic states. Particular attention is paid to joint educational programs and academic platforms for the exchange of experience. Also an important area of ​​Uzbekistan’s initiatives are projects in the field of energy and environmental protection.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the participation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the UTC summit in Azerbaijan will be the next step in promoting current initiatives for the development of the Turkic world, strengthening peace and stability in the region. This visit will also serve as an incentive to further strengthen the unity and ensure the well-being of the peoples of the Turkic countries.

IA “Dunyo”