Uzbekistan and Indonesia launch official talks on free trade agreement

On March 2, Laziz Kudratov, the Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, held a video conference with Indonesia’s Minister of Trade, Budi Santoso. The discussions focused on the strategic expansion of trade, economic, and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Record growth in bilateral trade

During the meeting, the ministers noted a remarkable 82% increase in trade turnover achieved in 2025. To maintain this momentum, Kudratov and Santoso agreed to:

• Expand agricultural exports: Both nations will work to increase the volume of food products traded.
• Streamline regulations: Efforts will be made to accelerate phytosanitary and quarantine procedures to reduce trade barriers.
• Standardize Halal certification: A key agreement was reached regarding the mutual recognition of Halal product certificates, facilitating easier market access for food producers.

As a result of the negotiations, a cooperation agreement in the fields of trade and investment was signed. Furthermore, the ministers finalized a joint statement officially launching negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement.

Aviation and connectivity as a catalyst

The strengthening of economic relations follows a major breakthrough in aviation cooperation reached in August 2025. At that time, aviation authorities from both countries agreed to increase the number of weekly flights from 3 to 28.

In addition to the capital city of Jakarta, Uzbek carriers have been granted rights to operate flights to several key Indonesian destinations, including:

• Banda Aceh
• Denpasar (Bali)
• Yogyakarta
• Lombok
• Majalengka
• Medan
• Surabaya
• Tanjung Pandan

This increase in connectivity is expected to serve as a vital engine for both tourism and the transport of commercial goods under the upcoming trade framework.