Uzbekistan and Italy reach agreement on seasonal employment in agricultural sector

Uzbekistan and Italy have reached an agreement to facilitate the seasonal employment of Uzbek citizens in the Italian agricultural industry. Under the new arrangement, workers from Uzbekistan will be eligible for seasonal contracts ranging from three to nine months.

Photo: Migration Agency

According to the Migration Agency, a formal cooperation agreement was signed with the Italian fruit and vegetable association, Associazione Imprese Ortofrutticole. The high-level negotiations took place in Tashkent, featuring a delegation that included the head of the Migration Agency, Bekhzod Musayev, and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Agriculture, Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov. The Italian side was represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida, and the Vice President of Confagricoltura, Luca Brondelli.

The Associazione Imprese Ortofrutticole is a major industry body representing over 35 companies involved in the fruit and vegetable sector. These firms manage the entire production cycle – from primary farming and cultivation to processing, logistics, and export. The association primarily focuses on the production of high-value crops such as apples, kiwis, pomegranates, and strawberries.

Marco Salvi, the President of the Association, announced that a pilot project will be launched in 2026 to initiate this cooperation. During the first phase of the program, the association plans to employ 100 citizens from Uzbekistan. If the pilot proves successful, there is potential for the quota to increase in subsequent years, providing a structured and legal pathway for Uzbek laborers to gain international experience in modern agribusiness.