Mirziyoyev, Erdoğan hold a meeting of Strategic Cooperation Council

“The establishment of the Strategic Cooperation Council opened a new page in the history of Uzbek-Turkish relations and gave a powerful impetus to the further development of partnership in all areas,” Mirziyoyev said.

The heads of state set the task of increasing the volume of bilateral trade turnover to $5 billion as soon as possible. In order to further build up bilateral trade and economic cooperation, the importance of strengthening industrial cooperation, deepening the localization of production of goods with high added value and joint entry into the markets of third countries was noted.

“The need to reduce customs tariffs within the framework of the agreement on preferential trade and to open a trade mission of Uzbekistan in the city of Istanbul was emphasized,” the press service noted.

Attention was drawn to the demand for introducing advanced Turkish experience and public-private partnership mechanisms, expanding interaction in the field of agriculture and water management, digitalization of healthcare and the creation of medical clusters.

Another important area of cooperation is increasing the transport and logistics potential of the two countries, including through the effective use of the opportunities of the Middle Corridor.

The parties welcomed the adoption of a declaration on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership and the creation of an Uzbek-Turkish business council under the leadership of the leaders of the two countries.

Following the meeting, the governments were instructed to approve a joint “road map” for the implementation of the decisions taken. Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to visit Uzbekistan to hold the next meeting of the council.

In recent years, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Turkey has increased 1.5 times, the number of joint ventures has increased by 2 times, and the volume of Turkish investments in the Uzbek economy has increased by 2.5 times. There are 90 flights a week between major cities of the two countries, and the flow of tourists from Turkey has tripled.