Uzbek president, Azerbaijani economy minister discuss further expanding bilateral ties

TASHKENT. May 2 (Interfax) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has met with Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, who has arrived in Uzbekistan to attend the Tashkent International Investment Forum, the Uzbek presidential press service said.

"The parties discussed steps to further develop and deepen the Uzbek-Azerbaijani strategic partnership and to expand their practical cooperation in the context of implementing agreements reached earlier," the press service said.

Trade between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan has been growing rapidly, the press service cited Mirziyoyev as saying. Mutual trade increased 27% in 2023, growing by a further 15% since the beginning of this year, he said. The parties also noted the successful implementation of cooperation projects in car manufacturing, energy, agriculture, electrical engineering, the textile industry, tourism, and in other areas. They reiterated the importance of enlarging the portfolio of projects, including with the help of funds from a joint investment company.

"The next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission and the two countries' second Forum of the Regions will be held in the near future in order to thoroughly prepare the economic agenda of upcoming top-level meetings," the press service said.

Mirziyoyev and Jabbarov also exchanged views on cooperation within the region and welcomed the results of a meeting between the economy and energy ministers of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan held the day before, it said.