Uzbekistan and Russia target $30 billion trade turnover by 2030, deepen ties in nuclear energy and industry

Aripov noted that trade between the two countries has doubled over the past five years, exceeding $13 billion by the end of 2025. He added that in the first two months of this year alone, trade grew by an additional 30%. The Prime Minister emphasized that both parties intend to diversify mutual trade by including more high-value-added products.

Currently, more than 3,200 enterprises with Russian capital operate in Uzbekistan, with a total project portfolio estimated at nearly $44 billion.

"By the end of 2025, we had utilized approximately $5 billion in Russian investments. Currently, cooperation projects are being actively implemented in the mining, metallurgical, energy, chemical, agricultural, textile, and electrical engineering sectors," Aripov said.

He cited specific industrial achievements, highlighting the launch of the third copper beneficiation plant at the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine, the start of work on a fourth plant, and the ongoing renewal of the Tashkent Metro rolling stock. Furthermore, joint industrial parks are being developed in the Tashkent, Jizzakh, Bukhara, and Navoi regions.

Aripov identified energy as a cornerstone of the partnership, describing a "new chapter" in bilateral relations.

"We are progressively increasing cooperation in the energy sector. The project to construct our country's first nuclear power plant has opened a new chapter in our interaction; Uzbekistan will become the first country in the world to host both a small and a large nuclear power plant on a single site," Aripov stated.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin added that Russia plans to increase supplies of natural gas and oil to Uzbekistan, alongside ongoing efforts to modernize gas infrastructure and drill new wells.

The Prime Ministers also reported significant growth in connectivity. The volume of transportation across all modes has increased substantially, with the frequency of regular flights reaching a record 367 per week. "We do not have such an indicator with any other country in the world," Aripov added. He also noted that a record 1 million Russian tourists visited Uzbekistan last year.

The joint communiqué following the meeting emphasized that organized recruitment is the primary instrument for regulating labor migration. The parties stressed the need for an orderly, coordinated approach based on an intergovernmental agreement. This framework requires Uzbek citizens to undergo pre-departure procedures – including fingerprinting, photographing, and entry-restriction checks – before traveling to Russia for work.